Japan May machinery orders fall 0.6% month-on-month
That compared with a 1.5 per cent drop estimated by economists in a Reuters poll.
On a year-on-year basis, core orders, a highly volatile data series regarded as a leading indicator of capital spending in the coming six to nine months, grew 4.4 per cent, versus a forecast for a 3.4 per cent rise, the data showed.
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Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Danish lifestyle brand Flying Tiger Copenhagen opens first Singapore store at Bugis+
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The 157 sq m space is packed with toys, games and gadgets, as well as leisure, home and kitchen products. SINGAPORE – Danish lifestyle brand Flying Tiger Copenhagen, known for its colourful and affordable products for the home and office, has opened its first Singapore store at Bugis+ on July 28. Packed with toys, games and gadgets, as well as leisure, home and kitchen products, the 157 sq m space sits on the mall's second floor. It is similar in spirit to lifestyle retailers such as Australian brand Typo and Chinese label Miniso. A cross between Swedish home retailer Ikea and Japanese consumer store Daiso comes to mind, as Flying Tiger Copenhagen showcases a Scandinavian design sensibility in its everyday products. Most items in the Singapore store are priced under $20. The most expensive is a $45 skateboard, while foam water guns are priced at $2. To celebrate the opening, the brand is hosting an interactive pop-up at the Bugis+ atrium from Aug 1 to 3, featuring mini games, a spin-the-wheel station and prizes up for grabs. The Singapore store is the brand's latest step in its Asia-Pacific expansion, which kicked off with Indonesia and the Philippines in 2023, followed by Australia and Vietnam in 2024. Concurrently, the brand's first Malaysian store opened its doors in Johor Bahru's Aeon Mall Tebrau City on July 28. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after PUB tests Singapore Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty on Aug 4 in case linked to ex-transport minister Iswaran Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore COE quota up 2.6% to 18,701 for August to October Business Resilient economy versus uncertain outlook splits views on Singapore's monetary policy Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose The Asia-Pacific stores operate under a franchise model, with Indonesian lifestyle retailer PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk (MAP) managing the stores in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The store's range draws from the same product catalogue of its home stores in Denmark, and are made by the same factories, mostly in China. Mr Martin Jermiin, chief executive of Flying Tiger Copenhagen, tells The Straits Times: 'Since joining Flying Tiger Copenhagen as CEO in 2019, I've had the privilege of leading the brand through a transformational phase of global expansion. Singapore represents a pivotal market in our Asian expansion strategy.' The Singapore store is the brand's latest step in its Asia-Pacific expansion. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY 'Our mission is 'a richer life doesn't cost a fortune'. We strive to bring a sense of surprise and joy into every store visit by providing our customers with a broad, compelling assortment of everyday essentials combined with ever-evolving, inspirational new offerings,' he adds. The brand began as a flea market stall in the late 1980s, with the first bricks-and-mortar store opening in Copenhagen in 1995, where every item was priced at 10 Danish kroner (S$2). A 10 kroner coin is known as a 'tier' in Denmark – which is similar to the Danish pronunciation of 'tiger'. In this light, the first store took the moniker of 'Tiger', and subsequent stores continued to be known as 'Tiger' until 2016. The name was then officially changed to Flying Tiger Copenhagen, as the Tiger name had not been usable in certain markets. As at 2025, it has more than 1,000 stores in 39 markets. ST highlights selected products that shoppers can find at its Singapore store. Cactus Scissors ($8): What looks like a cactus figurine is actually a functional accessory: a storage stand for a pair of scissors. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY 2. Soap bubble machine ($15): This shark-shaped soap bubble machine will be a hit at any playground or birthday party. Bonus: It doubles as a cute piece of home decor. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY 3. Seashell soap dispenser ($9): Make hand-washing more fun with this clamshell-shaped soap dispenser in a deep royal blue. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY 4. Ombre vase ($3): House your flowers in an equally vivid vessel, which has fluted glass detailing. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY 5. Self-care journal ($10): Make self-care a habit with this journal decorated with cherry motifs. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY 6. Cherry cushion ($12): If you have been joining the hordes in accumulating food-themed plush toys, these cherry cushions will be a sweet addition to your collection. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
US Democrats, Republicans plan bills to pressure China as Trump pushes trade
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on artificial intelligence at the \"Winning the AI Race\" Summit in Washington D.C., U.S., July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. senators from both major parties plan to introduce bills this week targeting China over its treatment of minority groups, dissidents and Taiwan, emphasizing security and human rights as President Donald Trump focuses on trade with Beijing. The three bills, seen by Reuters ahead of their introduction, have Democratic and Republican sponsors, a departure from the fierce partisanship dividing Washington. Trump's push to reach economic agreements between the world's two biggest economies has strong support in Congress, especially from his fellow Republicans, but has prompted some China hawks to worry that the U.S. government is de-emphasizing security issues. "It does appear that President Trump is keen to negotiate some kind of deal with China, and gaps are opening between his approach to China and the approaches of some members of his team, as well as with Congress, which overall has been quite hawkish on China," said Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. The desire for a hard line on China is one of the few truly bipartisan sentiments in the perennially divided Congress, even as many lawmakers support Trump's efforts to rebalance the bilateral trade relationship. "The United States cannot afford to be weak in the face of the People's Republic of China and its aggression around the world," said Democrat Jeff Merkley of Oregon, a lead sponsor of all three bills. "No matter who is in the White House, America's values of freedom and human rights must remain at the heart of a clear and principled vision that guides our leadership on the global stage," Merkley said in a statement. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Singapore Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty on Aug 4 in case linked to ex-transport minister Iswaran Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore COE quota up 2.6% to 18,701 for August to October Business Resilient economy versus uncertain outlook splits views on Singapore's monetary policy Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose White House officials have said that Trump remains fully committed to Asia-Pacific security issues as he pursues his trade agenda and a good personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. TRADE VS. SECURITY One bill, co-sponsored by Republican John Cornyn of Texas, would deny entry into the United States of current or former Chinese government officials who were deemed to have engaged in the forced repatriation of members of China's Uyghur minority. Human rights groups accuse China of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority numbering about 10 million in its northwestern region of Xinjiang. Beijing denies any abuses. Another, co-sponsored by Republican John Curtis of Utah, aims to help Taiwan as the island faces increasing pressure from China. It would support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan and would take other steps to deepen coordination with Taipei. China claims the democratically governed island as its own and has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Beijing has stepped up military and political pressure against the island in recent years. A third bill, co-sponsored by Republican Dan Sullivan of Alaska, seeks to combat "transnational repression" - efforts by any foreign government to reach beyond its own borders to intimidate, harass or harm dissidents, journalists or activists. Facing Trump's August 12 deadline, top U.S. and Chinese economic officials will meet in Stockholm on Monday to try to tackle their longstanding disputes, hoping to extend a truce by three months and keep sharply higher tariffs at bay. Trump "cares about opening foreign markets to American trade, and that's what he's always cared about. And that is going to run counter to a lot of national security imperatives," said Michael Sobolik, who specializes in U.S.-China relations at the Hudson Institute. Democrats and some of Trump's fellow Republicans raised concerns about the announcement this month that Nvidia will resume sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China, days after its CEO met with Trump. This reversed an AI restriction imposed in April that was designed to keep the most advanced AI chips out of Chinese hands. REUTERS
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Hotelier Loh Lik Peng appointed Singapore Land Authority chairman
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) on Monday (Jul 28) announced several board appointment changes at the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), including a new chairman and filmmaker Boo Junfeng as a new board member. Loh Lik Peng, the founder and director of Unlisted Collection and a hotelier, restaurateur, and entrepreneur, will be appointed chairman of the SLA board on Aug 1. He has been on the board since 2017 and was appointed deputy chairman in 2020. Outgoing chairman Yeoh Oon Jin is the former executive chairman of PwC Singapore, and has served on the SLA board since 2016. "Under his leadership, SLA has made significant strides in transforming state properties to serve businesses and the community," MinLaw said. "As chairman, Mr Yeoh pushed for the adaptive reuse of state properties for more social and community uses, successfully activating diverse spaces for community building and social good and pivoting state properties for uses that are attuned to evolving needs in the community." This includes rejuvenating heritage buildings such as the former St Andrew's Mission Hospital, MinLaw added. Mr Yeoh also helped to advance the development of the digital conveyancing portal, "which will transform the current manual, paper-based conveyancing process into an efficient, streamlined digitalised process". "Under Mr Yeoh's guidance, SLA was elected co-chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global GeoSpatial Information Management and implemented the refreshed National Geospatial Masterplan to drive a geoenabled Singapore," said MinLaw. The Law Ministry and SLA thanked Mr Yeoh for his service and contributions. Jerry Koh, a corporate lawyer and a managing partner at Allen and Gledhill, will be appointed deputy chairman of the board on Aug 1. He has been on the board since 2020. NEW BOARD MEMBERS Mr Boo, a director and writer at Peanut Pictures, will be appointed to the SLA board for two years. His feature-length films, Sandcastle and Apprentice, have premiered at Cannes Film Festival. He also served as the creative director of Singapore's National Day Parade in 2018, 2021 and 2025. Mr Boo is also the chair of the Singapore International Film Festival. The other new appointee to the SLA board is Rafiq Bin Mohamad, the founder and the creative and branding director of design agency Feral. The agency's clients include the Singapore Art Museum, The Lo and Behold Group and Restaurant Labyrinth. Six other members of the board, including Lien Choong Luen, general manager of Gojek Singapore, were reappointed for another two years. Angeline Poh, Mediacorp's chief customer and corporate development officer, will complete her board term on Jul 31. "MinLaw and SLA extend our deepest gratitude to Ms Poh for her invaluable contributions to SLA during her appointment," the agencies said.
