Tech shocks to industry have only just begun
It used to take hundreds of men years to do the kind of metal bending this takes. But in this massive building, a little more than the size of a football field, I counted fewer than two dozen workers. They were directing robotic welding arms to carve massive pieces of steel in a fraction of the time that hand blasting takes. Virtual-reality helmets helped them to exactly match construction on new builds to parts yet to be fitted, something that used to involve guesswork and paper blueprints. Even painters were wearing sci-fi type 'exosuits' (think Matt Damon in the movie Elysium) to make their jobs exponentially easier and more comfortable.
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Business Times
11 hours ago
- Business Times
Italian regulator hits Shein with 1-million euro greenwashing fine
[ROME] Italy's competition authority (AGCM) imposed a one million euro (S$1.5 million) fine on China-founded fast fashion online retailer Shein on Monday (Aug 4) for misleading customers on the environmental impact of its products. This is Shein's second financial sanction by a European competition authority in little more than a month, after France fined the company 40 million euros on Jul 3 over fake discounts and misleading environmental claims. The Italian fine was imposed on Infinite Styles Services Limited, a Dublin-based company that operates Shein's website in Europe, following a 'greenwashing' investigation by AGCM launched last September. Shein did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AGCM said the environmental sustainability and social responsibility messages on Shein's website 'were sometimes vague, generic, and/or overly emphatic, and in other cases omitted and misleading.' Shein's claims on circular system design and product recyclability 'were found to be false or at the very least confusing', and the green credentials of its 'evoluSHEIN by design' collection were overstated, the regulator said. 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 Shein promotes the 'evoluSHEIN by design' collection as clothes made using more sustainable and responsible manufacturing. AGCM said consumers could be misled to think that the collection was made with eco-friendly materials and fully recyclable, 'a fact that, considering the fibres used and currently existing recycling systems, is untrue'. The authority also took issue with Shein's 'vague and generic' commitments to cut greenhouse emissions by 25 per cent by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, noting they contradicted its increase in emissions in 2023 and 2024. The Italian regulator said its overall assessment was influenced by an 'increased duty of care' falling on Shein, 'because it operates in a highly polluting sector and with highly polluting methods' such as fast and super-fast fashion. AGCM is in charge of consumer protection as well as competition. When AGCM's investigation was launched last year, Shein said it was 'ready to cooperate openly with relevant Italian authorities, providing the necessary support and information to address any inquiries'. Founded in China, Shein is known for its cheap tops and dresses. Its treatment of workers and environmental record came under increased scrutiny last year after reports that it was planning to list its shares in London. REUTERS
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Boeing's St. Louis union workers reject latest offer, will strike Monday
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The workers assemble Boeing's fighter jets and the MQ-25, an aerial refueling drone being developed for the US Navy. ST LOUIS - Unionised workers who assemble Boeing's fighter jets in the St. Louis area rejected Boeing's latest contract offer on Aug 3 and will strike at midnight on Aug 4, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said. 'IAM District 837 members ... deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation's defense,' the union's Business Representative Tom Boelling said. Boeing said it was ready for the action. 'We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan,' Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager Dan Gillian said in an email. 'We're disappointed our employees in St. Louis rejected an offer that featured 40 per cent average wage growth,' he added. Last week, Boeing sent a new contract offer to the union with some minor compensation changes that would benefit senior union members, according to the company. The offer also kept current overtime policies, which Boeing had proposed modifying in the last contract offer. The union had rejected the previous offer, saying that the offer was insufficient. The workers assemble Boeing's fighter jets and the MQ-25, an aerial refueling drone being developed for the US Navy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No plans to fully liberalise cross-border ride-hailing services between Singapore and Johor: LTA Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am World Trump is winning his trade war, but Americans will pay the price Singapore President Tharman meets migrant workers who saved driver of car that fell into sinkhole Singapore Singapore must stay socially progressive while conserving its cultures: President Tharman Sport A 'wake-up call': National coach Gary Tan on Singapore swimmers' performances at WCH 2025 Opinion The charm – and drawbacks – of living in a time warp in Singapore Life KPop Demon Hunters to get sequels, expanded universe to include musical, live-action remake Boeing's defense division is expanding manufacturing facilities in the St. Louis area for the new US Air Force fighter, the F-47A, after it won the contract this year. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Norris completes Hungarian practice double as McLaren dominate
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BUDAPEST - Lando Norris completed a Hungarian Grand Prix practice double on Friday as runaway leaders McLaren dominated both sessions while leaving something in reserve and almost colliding at the end. Norris was top of the timesheets in both sessions at the Hungaroring outside Budapest, with Formula One leader Oscar Piastri second and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc emerging as McLaren's closest rival. The Briton was 0.019 of a second faster than teammate Piastri, who has a 16 point lead after 13 of 24 races, in first practice and 0.291 quicker in the late afternoon when he set a best lap of one minute 15.624 seconds. At the end of the session, with the chequered flag already waved, Norris locked up coming out of the pits for a practice start as Piastri, winner in Belgium last weekend, went around the outside at turn one. Norris was on pole at the circuit last year in a race won by Piastri, his first victory in F1. Leclerc was third fastest in both sessions, with Racing Bulls' French rookie Isack Hadjar fourth in the opening one but Aston Martin coming on strong in the second with Lance Stroll fourth and Fernando Alonso fifth. Double world champion Alonso had missed practice one due to back pain, with Brazilian reserve Felipe Drugovich standing in for him. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam Business Singapore's US tariff rate stays at 10%, but the Republic is not out of the woods yet Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Business ST explains: How Trump tariffs could affect Singapore SMEs, jobs and markets Asia Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts Singapore Thundery showers expected on most days in first half of August Singapore Synapxe chief executive, MND deputy secretary to become new perm secs on Sept 1 Singapore 5 women face capital charges after they were allegedly found with nearly 27kg of cocaine in S'pore Lewis Hamilton, winner a record eight times in Hungary with McLaren and Mercedes, was fifth and sixth on his return with Ferrari. Mercedes's form looked more encouraging than at the last race in Belgium, with George Russell ending the day seventh, after earlier complaining about his car's balance, and Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli 10th. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen was ninth and 14th respectively in the sessions, with Japanese teammate Yuki Tsunoda 17th and ninth. "I don't know what's going on. It's just undriveable, I can't get any balance," said Verstappen over the team radio at one point in the late afternoon. Verstappen was summoned to the stewards for a bizarre incident in which the four-times world champion threw what appeared to be a rag out of the car's cockpit while on track at turn three. Estonian Paul Aron took Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber for the opening session and was last after having to stop before the midpoint of the session due to a technical problem. Hulkenberg was 12th on his return. Sunday's race is the last before Formula One's August break. REUTERS
