Google says hackers that targeted UK retail sector are now targeting US retailers
In an email sent Wednesday, Google's cybersecurity arm said that the hackers "are aggressive, creative, and particularly effective at circumventing mature security programs."
(Reporting by Raphael Satter, Editing by Franklin Paul)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
China's early South American soybean buys squeeze US out of peak export window
China has moved early to lock in soybean supplies from Brazil for September and October, sidelining US exporters from what is traditionally their most lucrative selling period. The shift underscores Beijing's growing trade reliance on South America and comes amid renewed political and commercial tensions with Washington. According to market analysis from Brazil's Safras & Mercado, traders reported Chinese purchases of roughly 8 million tonnes of soybeans for September and 4 million tonnes for October, about half of the country's projected demand for the two months. All volumes are sourced from South America, with Brazil capturing the lion's share. The move effectively shortens the US 'window' for soybean shipments to China, which typically runs from September to January before the Brazilian harvest arrives. Last year, China imported 105 million tonnes of soybeans, 22.13 million of them from the US, illustrating how pivotal this early-season slot has been for American farmers. The decision to buy more soybeans from South America comes as Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures hover near five-year lows, with reduced Chinese buying expected to keep prices under pressure. When asked about the soybean purchases and their impact on US producers, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, did not directly address the trade volumes. Instead, he said Bejing hoped 'the US side will work with China to implement the important common understandings reached by our heads of state' and called for dialogue 'on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit' to promote sustainable bilateral relations. The Chinese embassy in Brasilia did not respond to requests for comment. On Monday, US President Donald Trump publicly urged Beijing to quadruple its soybean purchases from the United States, a dramatic call just days before a tariff truce between the two countries was set to expire. Posting on social media, Trump claimed China was concerned about soybean shortages and said he expected 'quick' orders from Beijing. The remarks briefly sent Chicago futures higher, but market watchers quickly questioned whether such a deal was realistic. Meeting the request would require China to source most of its soybean imports from the United States, an unprecedented shift that would displace established Brazilian volumes. It remains unclear whether increased Chinese agricultural purchases would be a condition for a lasting trade deal between Beijing and Washington. In the meantime, China has not booked any US soybeans for the fourth quarter, and some feed manufacturers are reportedly testing alternative suppliers, including Argentina, to secure cheaper South American protein meals. In Brazil, the news of both the early Chinese commitments and Trump's gambit was met with quiet confidence among exporters. In a statement, the Brazilian Soybean Producers Association said on Monday that it was monitoring the impact of a potential trade deal on crops, but that the combination of strong September and October sales could be an opportunity to further cement Brazil's role as China's primary supplier. As the US risks losing ground in the Chinese market, Brazil and China are also working on longer-term trade integration. On Sunday, the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported that officials from both countries were said to be drafting a bilateral protocol to recognise environmental certifications and traceability systems for key agricultural exports, particularly beef and soybeans. The plan would align methodologies for measuring emissions, land use and animal welfare, allowing Chinese authorities to formally recognise Brazilian sustainability seals such as 'Carbon Neutral Meat' and 'Low Carbon Soy'. Measures include integrated digital tracking, QR codes linking to environmental data and shared databases. The protocol aims to smooth trade flows, add value to certified products and pre-empt future non-tariff barriers. A Chinese technical delegation is expected in Brazil later this year to inspect systems on the ground before finalising the deal. The talks come against a backdrop of US tariff hikes on Brazilian goods and growing political friction between Washington and Brasília, even as China expands its list of authorised Brazilian exporters in other sectors, from coffee to processed foods. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
US-India trade talks scheduled for August called off, source says
Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations. - Photo: AFP NEW DELHI: A planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi from August 25-29 has been called off, a source said, delaying talks on a proposed trade agreement and dashing hopes of relief from additional US tariffs on Indian goods from Aug 27. The current round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement is now likely to be deferred to another date that has yet to be decided, the source with direct knowledge of the matter said. The US embassy in New Delhi said it has no additional information on the trade and tariff talks, which are being handled by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). India's trade ministry did not immediately reply to a Reuters email seeking comments. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nations. The new import tax, which will come into effect from Aug 27, will raise duties on some Indian exports to as high as 50% - among the highest levied on any US trading partner. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations over disagreement on opening India's vast farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. India's Foreign Ministry has said the country is being unfairly singled out for buying Russian oil while the United States and European Union continue to purchase goods from Russia. - Reuters
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Bolivia votes as support for left wanes and inflation is top of mind
LA PAZ (Reuters) -Voters in Bolivia are gearing up for a general election on Sunday that has been overshadowed by inflation at a four-decade high and the absence of former leftist President Evo Morales, who is barred from running. Leading the race are opposition conservative contenders Samuel Doria Medina, a business magnate, and Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, a former president, but neither commands more than 30% support, opinion polls show, with around a quarter of Bolivians undecided. The August race marks the first time in almost two decades that polling indicates Bolivia's incumbent Movement for Socialism, or MAS, could face defeat. Support for MAS-affiliated and other left-leaning candidates trails the opposition, totaling around 10%, according to the latest August Ipsos CEISMORI survey. If no presidential candidate wins more than 40% support with a 10 percentage point lead, the election will head to a runoff on October 19. Morales, who co-founded MAS and governed the country from 2006 to 2019 under its banner, has been barred from running for another term as president. Ballot stations open on Sunday at 8 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and close at 4 p.m., with initial results expected after 9 p.m. Full officialresults are due within seven will also elect all 26 senators and 130 deputies, and officials assume office on November 8. With a crowded field and no dominant MAS party candidate, the election marks a "crossroads moment" for Bolivia, said Southern Andes analyst Glaeldys Gonzalez Calanche of the International Crisis Group. Bolivia's fragile economy is top-of-mind for voters. Price-rises have surged past other Latin American countries this year, and fuel and dollars have run scarce. Annual inflation doubled to 23% in June, up from 12% in January, with some Bolivians turning to cryptocurrencies as a hedge. Many Bolivians, especially those who work in the informal economy, were now struggling to make ends meet, said economist Roger Lopez. "Prices of the basic food basket are going up fast," said Lopez. "Suddenly the math doesn't add up anymore." They may choose to punish MAS on Sunday, creating a window of opportunity for centrists, the right, or a leftist faction led by Senate President Andronico Rodriguez. "Every year the situation has got worse under this government," said Silvia Morales, 30, from La Paz, who works in retail. A former MAS voter, she said this time she would cast her vote for the center-right. Carlos Blanco Casas, 60, a teacher in La Paz, said he intended to vote for change. "This election feels hopeful. We need a change of direction," he said. Quiroga has promised "radical change" to reverse what he calls "20 lost years" under MAS rule. He supports deep public spending cuts and a shift away from alliances with Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. Quiroga was president for a year in 2001-2002 after the then-leader resigned. Doria Medina, meanwhile, offers a more moderate approach, pledging to stabilize the economy within 100 days. On the left, the vote is split between the official MAS party candidate Eduardo del Castillo, who is backed by outgoing President Luis Arce, and Rodriguez, who has distanced himself from the party and is running on his own ticket. Morales, 69, has called for a boycott of the election, but analysts said his influence is waning. "There is widespread support for these elections," said Calanche. "Most Bolivians see them as key to leading the country towards economic recovery." (Reporting by Lucinda Elliott in Montevideo and Monica Machicao in La Paz, additional reporting by Camille Ayral in Mexico CityEditing by Daina Beth Solomon and Rosalba O'Brien)
