Made in China: C-beauty craze hits S'pore as new generation of brands offer quality for cheap
SINGAPORE – For Mr Allan Liu, founder and group chairman of Chinese beauty conglomerate Joy Group, opening his first international stores in Singapore feels like a homecoming.
Before he created popular C-beauty make-up brands Judydoll and Joocyee, the 37-year-old spent eight years studying and working here. In that time, he grew to appreciate the city-state's diverse population and appeal as a global travel destination.
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Straits Times
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Family behind Green Bus Company put Dunearn Road bungalow on sale for $60 million
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Built in the 1950s, the house has served as a multi-generational home for more than 70 years and was once occupied by four generations. SINGAPORE - The family behind Singapore's iconic Green Bus Company - whose bus No. 1 plied the only Singapore-Johor route from 1950 to the 1970s - has put its Dunearn Road bungalow up for sale. The freehold property is being marketed at $60 million, or about $2,480 per square foot land price. Located at 436 Dunearn Road, the property is on a 24,189 square foot regular-shaped plot which comes with a three-storey mixed landed zoning. While not classified as a Good Class Bungalow (GCB) itself, it is located off Shelford Road in the prime area of District 11 – near GCB areas in the same district. The property could be 'redeveloped into either four detached houses or two pairs of semi-detached and a detached', said Nicholas Ng, senior director at JLL, which is marketing the property. 'Despite not being situated in a GCB area, this locale is well-sought after by discerning buyers seeking a peaceful, low-density living environment,' he added. Built in the 1950s, the house has served as a multi-generational home for more than 70 years and was once occupied by four generations. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 2 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years at S'pore Boys' Home Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: MOS Dinesh Business New tie-up offers insurance savings for SMEs committed to workers' health and well-being Singapore Astronomer executives' Coldplay scandal: Why it went viral and the obsession with public shaming World Trump was told he is in Epstein files, Wall Street Journal reports Opinion The US dollar is down, but it has a lot going for it Singapore Ex-COO of Singaporean animal feed company charged with bribing manager at Malaysian firm The Green Bus Company was one of the earliest providers of cross-border public bus transport. It was first known as Rochor Bus Co and co-established in 1935 by Ong Chin Chuan, whose descendants own the property.
Straits Times
15 minutes ago
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Microsoft says some SharePoint server hackers now use ransomware
WASHINGTON - A cyber-espionage campaign centered on vulnerable versions of Microsoft's server software now involves the deployment of ransomware, Microsoft said in a blog post on July 23. In the post, citing 'expanded analysis and threat intelligence,' Microsoft said a group it dubs Storm-2603 is using the vulnerability to seed the ransomware, which typically works by paralysing victims' networks until a digital currency payment is made. The disclosure marks a potential escalation in the campaign, which has already hit at least 400 victims, according to Netherlands-based cybersecurity firm Eye Security. Unlike typical state-backed hacker campaigns, which are aimed at stealing data, ransomware can cause widespread disruption depending on where it lands. The figure of 400 victims represents a sharp rise from the 100 organisations cataloged over the weekend. Eye Security says the figure is likely an undercount. 'There are many more, because not all attack vectors have left artifacts that we could scan for,' said Mr Vaisha Bernard, the chief hacker for Eye Security, which was among the first organisations to flag the breaches. The details of most of the victim organisations have not yet been fully disclosed, but a representative for the National Institutes of Health confirmed on July 23 that one of the organisation's servers had been compromised. 'Additional servers were isolated as a precaution,' he said. The news of the compromise was first reported by the Washington Post. The spy campaign kicked off after Microsoft failed to fully patch a security hole in its SharePoint server software, kicking off a scramble to fix the vulnerability when it was discovered. Microsoft and its tech rival, Google owner Alphabet, have both said Chinese hackers are among those taking advantage of the flaw. Beijing has denied the claim. REUTERS
Business Times
15 minutes ago
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Xi says China, EU must deepen trust in turbulent world
[BEIJING] Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and the EU must deepen trust in a turbulent world, as he hosted the European bloc's bosses for a summit in Beijing on Thursday. Both sides can find 'common ground', he stressed, even though the areas of friction range from trade to the Ukraine war to human rights. Beijing has sought to draw the European Union closer as it positions itself as a more reliable partner than the United States and a bedrock of stability in a troubled world. But the EU has made clear it will confront deep divisions over trade, fears that cheap, subsidised Chinese goods could overwhelm European markets and Beijing's tacit support for Russia's war against Ukraine. Though nominally intended to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties, the long list of grievances set the stage for a contentious summit. 'The more severe and complex the international situation is, the more important it is for China and the EU to strengthen communication, increase mutual trust, and deepen cooperation,' Xi said, welcoming EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Antonio Costa. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Arriving in Beijing on Thursday, von der Leyen said in a post on X that the visit offered 'the opportunity to both advance and rebalance our relationship'. 'I'm convinced there can be a mutually beneficial cooperation,' she said. Brussels has acknowledged Thursday's talks between its top bosses and Chinese President Xi and Premier Li Qiang later in the day may be tense. 'We know that we don't see eye to eye with China on many issues,' a senior EU official told AFP last week. 'But we believe that it is essential to have this kind of very direct and open and constructive conversation sitting at the table at the highest level.' Top of the agenda for the EU is the yawning trade deficit with China that stood at around US$360 billion last year and which von der Leyen has described as 'unsustainable'. Beijing has dismissed those concerns, insisting that Brussels must 'rebalance its mentality', not its economic ties with China. 'Not naive' Von der Leyen has also said Brussels will demand that China eases market access for European companies and loosens export controls on strategically crucial rare earths. The EU has imposed hefty tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, arguing that Beijing's industrial subsidies unfairly undercut European competitors. China has rebuffed that claim and announced what were widely seen as retaliatory probes into imported European pork, brandy and dairy products. A second key source of friction is Russia's war in Ukraine - Brussels says China's deepening political and economic relations with Russia since the 2022 invasion represent tacit support for Moscow that have helped its economy weather sweeping Western sanctions. Last week, the bloc adopted a new package of sanctions on Russia over the war -- including on two Chinese banks, leading Beijing's commerce minister to issue 'solemn representations' to his EU counterpart. 'This is a core issue for Europe,' the senior EU official said. 'We know that Chinese companies supply around 80 per cent of the dual-use goods to the war,' they said, referring to goods with nominally civilian uses but which can also have military applications. 'We're not naive. We're not asking China to cut relations, but to step up the customs and financial controls.' Downward trajectory Beijing said this week ties with the bloc were at a 'pivotal juncture' as both economic giants contend with an aggressive US trade strategy under President Donald Trump. 'Against the backdrop of increasing international turbulence, rising unilateralism, and rampant protectionism', the summit 'serves the interests not only of both parties, but also of the whole world', foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said. Brussels has sought to temper expectations but pointed to areas like climate where it wants China to do more but where cooperation is seen as more feasible. But analysts say that concrete progress on any of the hot-button issues is unlikely. 'We should expect a very difficult moment,' Abigael Vasselier of the MERICS think tank told a briefing this week. 'This summit is not going to change the course of Europe-China relations, which is one of deterioration due to structural issues,' she said. 'Europe needs to be ready for a long-term struggle and probably needs to rethink its China strategy at this stage.' AFP
