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South Korea to scrutinise US-Japan trade deal as officials fly to Washington

South Korea to scrutinise US-Japan trade deal as officials fly to Washington

Straits Times3 days ago
Find out what's new on ST website and app.
As Japan competes with South Korea in areas such as autos and steel, Tokyo's trade deal will pile pressure on Seoul to reach a similar level of 15 per cent.
SEOUL - South Korea will take a close look at the terms of a US-Japan trade deal, its industry minister said on July 23, holding out the prospect of greater cooperation in the energy and industrial sectors ahead of key trade talks in Washington.
Japan competes with South Korea in areas such as autos and steel, so
Tokyo's trade deal will pile pressure on Seoul to reach a similar level of 15 per cent, or better, by an Aug 1 deadline to avert reciprocal US tariffs of 25 per cent.
The new finance ministry and the top trade envoy of Asia's fourth-biggest economy are set for high-level trade talks with US counterparts in Washington on July 25.
'Investors see the Japan-US deal as a benchmark for the Korean deal,' said Mr Kim Sung-rae, an analyst at Hanwha Investment and Securities.
'The deal would put pressure on Korean negotiators to come up with a similar or better deal,' he added.
South Korea's benchmark Kospi index edged down 0.3 per cent on July 23, but shares in automakers and suppliers rallied after the Japan-US deal. Hyundai Motor rose 6.8 per cent and Kia jumped 6.4 per cent.
New President Lee Jae-myung has said Seoul wanted to avoid a comparative disadvantage with other countries in trade deals.
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'It will be difficult for South Korea to have US tariff rates lower than 15 per cent on Japan and 10 per cent on Britain,' said Dr Kim Yong-jin, a management professor at Sogang University.
Seoul needed to import more farm goods and energy, as well as boost investments, as Japan had done to reach a similar outcome, he added.
South Korea will exclude the opening up of its rice and beef markets as a bargaining chip in the Washington talks, instead considering more US imports of crops for fuel, such as corn for bioethanol, the Yonhap News Agency said.
'We will make an all-out effort to produce a positive sum result that will allow Korea-US industrial and energy cooperation to be upgraded to the next level,' South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said in a statement.
Since the result could have a significant economic impact, South Korea would respond thoroughly while closely considering the sensitivity of its industry, he added.
Mr Kim will meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, among others, he told reporters before boarding a plane to Washington for the talks.
In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said Japan would boost market access for American producers of cars, trucks, rice and certain agricultural products, among others.
The deal's tariff of 15 per cent on all Japanese imports is down from a proposed 25 per cent, with Mr Trump adding that it would include US$550 billion (S$703 billion) of Japanese investments in the United States.
Last week, South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper said the United States in July had asked Seoul in talks to set up a large-scale investment fund to support the reconstruction of its manufacturing industry, without identifying a clear source. REUTERS
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SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm
SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm

Straits Times

time39 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm

Find out what's new on ST website and app. Brothers Alvin (left) and Allan Choo are the fifth generation of Choos to run Kwong Cheong Thye. SINGAPORE – The nation may be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025 , but there are some home-grown brands which are even older than it. Trusted kitchen staple SCS Butter turns 120, while Singapore Zam Zam, one of the oldest restaurants in Singapore , marks 117 years. Familiar household names such as Lam Soon, Old Chang Kee, Samy's Curry and Yeo's have stood the test of time to become heritage brands. In this third instalment of ST Food's four-part SG60 weekly series, The Straits Times shines the spotlight on 14 of them . Find out how these brands, trendsetters in their own ways, continue to thrive and stay relevant in the F&B landscape. The series kicked off on July 13 with 20 beloved dishes and drinks, followed by 14 laudable food and beverage brands last week. Next week, it culminates with 12 key people and events that have played a significant role in the Republic's vibrant food culture. Komala Vilas Then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Komala Vilas restaurant in 2015. PHOTO: KOMALA VILAS Established in 1947, Komala Vilas restaurant has been a reliable go-to for authentic Indian vegetarian cuisine. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia Behind deadly Thai-Cambodian clashes, a bitter spat between two dynastic leaders Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Business How parents can prevent disputes over their properties Sport Mikkel Lee gets back up to speed as Singapore swimmers eye 2028 Olympics spots Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Its flagship is at 76 to 78 Serangoon Road, while its adjacent sweet shop is a stone's throw away in Upper Dickson Road . Its other outlet, which opened in 2024, is at 291 Serangoon Road. The extensive menu – with dishes traditionally served on banana leaves – includes dosai, idly, tantalising thali meals and tandoori specials. Komala Vilas' rice meal. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE In 2015, it made history with a visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who savoured idly, vadai and dosai there with Singapore's then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching. It weathered the Covid-19 pandemic, but shuttered a few outlets over the past few years because of manpower shortages. However, it remains poised to continue the family legacy, with third-generation owner Rajakumar Gunasekaran fronting the business. Kwong Cheong Thye Kwong Cheong Thye's soya sauces. PHOTO: KWONG CHEONG THYE Chefs swear by its soya sauce. Peek into the kitchens of Singapore's top hotels and restaurants – including Peach Blossoms at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay and Summer Pavilion at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore – and, chances are, they are using Kwong Cheong Thye's sauces. This home-grown Singapore brand got its start in 1892. Founder Choo Cheong Chan left Jiangmen in Guangdong province, China, and came here for better opportunities. He set up Kwong Cheong Thye in Jalan Sultan, making soya sauce for food suppliers. Today, the sauce, which is fermented for six months, is brewed in its factory in Senoko Avenue. Mr Alvin Choo, 31, and Mr Allan Choo, 30, are the fifth generation of Choos running the business. Brothers Allan (left) and Alvin Choo are the fifth generation of Choos to run Kwong Cheong Thye. PHOTO: ST FILE They are growing it. Soon, a facility in Senoko Crescent will open and it will be used to make just soya sauce. The current factory will produce the brand's other sauces, including oyster, chicken rice, chilli crab and black pepper crab sauces. Some 80 per cent of its business is supplying to trade – top hotels and restaurants here and abroad use its products. About half its sauces are exported overseas to Australia, China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and countries in this region. Kwong Cheong Thye, which has retail shops in Geylang and at Jewel Changi Airport, also produces fresh and dried noodles under its My Noodle brand, and makes mooncake paste. Lam Soon Knife cooking oil is produced by Singapore brand Lam Soon. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG You will not have to look hard in your home to find a Lam Soon product. Knife and Naturel cooking oil, UFC Refresh Coconut Water, UFC canned pineapple, bio-home laundry detergent, and NooTrees toilet paper and tissues are all produced by this Singapore brand. Founder Ng Keng Soon came to Singapore from Xiamen, China, and started Lam Soon Cannery in 1929. He named the company Lam Soon, using the Hokkien word for 'south' – as Singapore was then considered part of the Southern Seas – and part of his name. He started off producing soya sauce, and after World War II, expanded the range of products to include canned food, cooking oil, coffee and laundry soap. The company operates in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, and exports its wares to more than 50 countries. Over the decades, it has kept up with consumer needs and preferences. When people became more health-conscious, it introduced the Naturel brand of organic olive oil from Spain. It also sources products from overseas, such as organic pasta from Italy, organic brown and red rice from Thailand, and sesame oil from Japan, and markets them under its brands. Lana Cakes Chocolate fudge cake from Lana Cakes. PHOTO: ST FILE Many Singaporeans have grown up with one default birthday cake – Lana Cake. You know, the chocolate sponge cake covered with shiny chocolate fudge? Yes, that's the one. Mrs Violet Kwan, 97, started baking her famous cakes in 1964. Her sister-in-law Lani was visiting from Hawaii and taught her to make blueberry, orange and chocolate cakes. Mrs Kwan's friends loved them and she started a home business. In 1975, she opened her shop in Greenwood Avenue, where it still stands. Her son Jason Kwan, 59, gave up his job as a banker in Tokyo to run the business and preserve her legacy. Lana Cakes founder Violet Kwan and her son Jason Kwan, who now runs the business. PHOTO: ST FILE What makes that cake so special? Why do long queues form just to order it? Why is the kitchen run off its feet during festive seasons? The secret might lie in the lightness of the sponge cake and the jelly-like texture of its chocolate fudge frosting. Each cake is baked from scratch and frosted by hand in a not-very-big kitchen. Of course, Lana sells more than just chocolate fudge cake. Some popular creations include Yuzu Indulge, a chiffon cake made with yuzu juice from Kochi prefecture in Japan; Blueberry Cake ; and Coconut Dream, featuring hand-squeezed coconut cream in the chiffon cake, with buttercream and gula melaka cream in the middle. Lana Cakes' Lana-To-Go is its famous chocolate fudge cake packed into a jar, with even more fudge. PHOTO: ST FILE Lana is not stuck in time. In January , Mr Kwan introduced Lana-To-Go, which comes in plastic jars. That same chocolate sponge cake, but with more fudge – 70 per cent of the jar is fudge. After six decades, Lana still knows the way to a Singaporean's heart. Old Chang Kee Old Chang Kee's Chilli Crab'O puff and Soft Shell Crab Tempura with Mantous. PHOTO: OLD CHANG KEE From its humble beginnings as a small stall near the then Rex Cinema in Mackenzie Road in 1956, Old Chang Kee has grown into a mighty empire of convenient snacking on the go. The halal-certified chain's snacks include fishballs, chicken wings, carrot cake and nuggets. And, particularly with its iconic curry puff, the brand has always stayed on trend. It has featured bold flavours from nasi lemak to durian to its recent chicken rendang-filled Camo Puff, wrapped in a striking camouflage-patterned pastry in celebration of SAF Day. Now, in honour of SG60, its popular Chilli Crab'O puff returns – complete with red and white hued pastry and actual crab meat. Adding to the occasion is Soft Shell Crab Tempura with Mantous in a cup. Both are available till Aug 10. The listed company – which marks its 70th anniversary in 2026 – runs more than 70 outlets islandwide and more than 100 outlets globally, with branches in Malaysia, Indonesia and Britain. It also operates casual chain Curry Times, as well as a catering arm and food truck for events. Want Old Chang Kee even closer to home? It sells its local food pastes – curry, laksa and chilli crab – at selected Curry Times and Old Chang Kee outlets. Phoon Huat Phoon Huat is a go-to for baking ingredients and tools. ST PHOTO: TAN HSUEH YUN Phoon Huat's 20 shops, many located in Housing Board estates, are places people go to to buy baking ingredients and tools. Just before the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is always a rush for mooncake paste and moulds. But it was the Covid-19 pandemic that showed just how important Phoon Huat is to Singapore. Sequestered at home, people turned to baking. They queued to get into its stores to stock up on supplies. Those queues ran long – the number of people in them and the need for social distancing meant people waited for hours in line. Cue temper tantrums and tears. Who knew flour, sugar, cream cheese and chocolate could cause consumer meltdowns? Founder Wong Tai Fuang probably did not, when he came to Singapore from Hainan, China, and opened a small shop in Middle Road in 1947. He made deliveries on his bicycle. In 1958, he launched the RedMan brand, which is still around . Products started rolling out – RedMan rose and orange concentrates in the 1960s and double action baking powder in the 1970s. In the 1980s, it launched Emulco, a concentrated liquid that provides flavouring and colour to baked goods and desserts. Phoon Huat sells bread and other types of flour from Japan, gluten-free options , high-end vanilla and Japanese salt. Other than baking supplies, it also carries frozen seafood, beef and meat alternatives. Prima Taste Prima Taste's Singapore Laksa Wholegrain LaMian. PHOTO: PRIMA TASTE No instant noodle has put Singapore on the global map quite like Prima Taste's Laksa LaMian and Wholegrain LaMian. The Wholegrain LaMian version has reigned supreme in The Ramen Rater's Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time for 10 years, all the way to the recent 2025 edition. It hit the top spot for its 'thick, chewy noodle with an artisan feel' and an 'out of this world' broth. Not to be outdone, the normal Laksa LaMian version was declared a top pick in a list of best instant noodles as well, published in December 2024 by Wirecutter, The New York Times' product review section. The review also lauded the chewy noodles, as well as the heady mix of pungent fermented shrimp for a 'transportive' bowl. The versatile non-fried Plain LaMian and Wholegrain LaMian are hits as well. Other LaMian flavours include curry, prawn soup and chilli crab. Since 1998, home-grown company Prima Taste – available in more than 30 markets – has stuck to its mission of preserving heritage dishes such as laksa, prawn noodles and fish head curry, by making them easily replicable at home via its sauce kits and instant noodle packets. They are lifesavers for amateur cooks, and offer a taste of home to Singaporeans overseas. Samy's Curry Samy's Curry restaurant in Dempsey Road. PHOTO: ST FILE For people who fear heat and humidity, there is an air-conditioned dining area. But really, a meal of fish head curry at Samy's Curry is best enjoyed under the whirring fans in the main dining hall, set amid the lush greenery in Dempsey Road. Founder M. Veerasamy moved his restaurant there in the 1970s, long before it became a gourmet enclave. He was from South India and came to Singapore to work as a cook for a group of Indian merchants. In his free time, he experimented with recipes, asking neighbours to try his dishes. They became so popular, he started his own business. That was in the 1960s in Tank Road. As his food became more popular, he moved to Pearl's Hill and then to Dempsey Road. The family is still running the restaurant. Samy's Curry is famous for its masala chicken and fish head curry. PHOTO: ST FILE Masala chicken, fish head curry, fish cutlet and Mysore mutton are the signature offerings Samy's is known for. And, of course, eating everything with rice piled on banana leaves never loses its charm. SCS Butter SCS Butter's 120th-anniversary cooler bag. PHOTO: SCS BUTTER A pioneer in the butter category since 1905, SCS Butter made the product accessible at a time when cold-chain distribution was a luxury. Made with 100 per cent grass-fed cow's milk, the kitchen staple – whether as a block or in smaller portions – is suitable for baking, cooking and spreading on bread. It remains a fixture on supermarket shelves and online platforms, easily recognised for its iconic SCS star logo. And it continues to innovate. The latest addition to the SCS range, Garlic & Herb Spreadable Butter , is available at all supermarkets and online platforms. With a minimum purchase of $12 on any SCS products, customers will receive a limited-edition 120th-anniversary cooler bag, while stocks last. SCS Butter's new Garlic & Herb Spreadable Butter. PHOTO: SCS BUTTER Its milestone celebrations, in line with SG60, will showcase recipes for in-store sampling, of dishes such as butter corn and butter rice with corn and tuna. SCS, which stands for Singapore Cold Storage, was started by home-grown supermarket company Cold Storage. Zurich-headquartered DKSH, a leading market expansion service provider across Asia and beyond, acquired the SCS brand in 2019, through its purchase of investment holding company Auric Pacific's distribution business. Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant Singapore Zam Zam in North Bridge Road is one of Singapore's oldest restaurants. PHOTO: BT FILE One of Singapore's oldest restaurants is Singapore Zam Zam in North Bridge Road. Mr Abdul Kadir, an Indian Muslim from Kerala, opened it, and the two-storey restaurant is still slinging its signature murtabak, briyani and teh tarik to this day. The restaurant is named after the Zamzam Well in Mecca, which contains holy water. Murtabak, for the uninitiated, is prata dough stuffed with meat, onions and spices and fried till crisp . The restaurant offers mutton, beef, chicken and sardine versions. It also serves dum briyani, where the rice and meat are cooked together in a pot. Diners have a choice of mutton, beef, chicken, fish, prawn, egg and even venison. Zam Zam, which marks 117 years in 2025, has attracted controversy over the years. Its rivalry with neighbouring restaurant Victory boiled over in 2015, when former Zam Zam director Zackeer Abbass Khan masterminded a plot to slash a Victory supervisor in the face. He was convicted in 2020 and sentenced to six years' jail and six strokes of the cane. Sunshine Bakeries Sunshine Bakeries' Dark Rye Komugi Loaf. PHOTO: SUNSHINE BAKERIES Before Singapore became flooded with bakeries galore, there was Sunshine Bakeries – founded in 1930 as a small family-run outfit in Geylang. Known as the nation's first commercial bakery, it remains a leading manufacturer for baked products. Besides the classic white loaves, its offerings have evolved to include wholemeal loaves for the health-conscious, and convenient options such as wholemeal cream buns. In 2016, it launched its Smart-Carb Low GI (glycaemic index) 37 Bread, followed by Hokkaido Milk Toast the following year. More recently, it debuted a premium Shokupan Gold series, which includes a Butter Shokupan Loaf and Purple Sweet Potato Shokupan Loaf. On July 21, it rolled out premium wholemeal loaf range Komugi Gold, with its Dark Rye Komugi Loaf. The loaf is blended with six grains and seeds – oats, barley, dark rye, flax seeds, chia seeds and sunflower seeds – and offers a healthy, crunchy alternative to white bread. Tiger Beer Tiger Beer is one of Singapore's most recognisable exports. PHOTO: ST FILE It is one of Singapore's most notable exports and, besides the Singapore Sling, the most sought-after local drink for visitors here. So, it is only fitting that Raffles Hotel – synonymous with the Singapore Sling – is said to be the birthplace of Tiger Beer. ST's recent deep dive into Tiger Beer's story highlighted the hotel's Bar & Billiard Room's interesting connection to the tiger: One was shot and put down in the bar in 1902 after it escaped from a nearby circus. In 1932, the beer debuted with the slogan 'Time for a Tiger'. A print advertisement for Tiger Beer in the 1930s. PHOTO: ST FILE In recent years, it brewed newer flavours such as the Tiger Soju Infused Lager – Gutsy Grape and Tiger Radler in Lemon, Grapefruit and White Grape flavours. Today, it is the nation's roaring success in more than 60 markets worldwide. It marks SG60 with a special collaboration with iconic game brand Monopoly. To play, buy Tiger Beer products from participating supermarkets, convenience stores or e-commerce platforms to receive digital Property Cards till Oct 5. Collect all properties of a single colour and stand a chance to win prizes such as a BYD Seal Dynamic car or a 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro. Or you can get physical Property Cards from participating coffee shops till Aug 31 and stand a chance to win 100g or 50g gold bars. Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee dates back to the 1960s. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE Few coffee sellers have bridged the gap between traditional local kopi and third-wave coffee quite like Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee. The home-grown brand dates back to the 1960s, when Mr Tan Tiong Hoe started work as an apprentice in a Dutch coffee company called Mirandolle Voute & Co. In 1975, he launched Tiong Hoe Gim Kee Trading Company, which became known for its traditional Hainanese-style coffee roasted with sugar and butter. His son Jacob built on his legacy and established the business as Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee in 2014 – right when Singapore's third-wave coffee scene was taking off. More than just a coffee wholesaler and supplier, it also showcases coffee machines and equipment, and offers workshops and mobile coffee carts for events. Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee at VivoCity. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE Besides the flagship cafe in Stirling Road, Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee has nine other outlets, including four inside FairPrice supermarkets at VivoCity, The Woodleigh Mall, Balmoral Plaza and Parkway Parade. Its latest branch launched in April at One Raffles Place and serves a trendy yuzu coffee soda, packed with a strong double shot of ristretto. Yeo's Yeo's is known for its Asian drinks, including (from left) lemon barley, bandung and wintermelon. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG People of a certain age know the brand by its full name – Yeo Hiap Seng. Now a zippier Yeo's, the brand is still going strong. It is known for Asian drinks and canned chicken curry. But founder Yeo Keng Lian started out making soya sauce. It was 1900 and he had a shop in Zhangzhou in Fujian province . He uprooted his family and came to Singapore in the 1930s, making and selling soya sauce. It became popular and he diversified his product range. The brand is the first in the world to put Asian drinks into Tetra Pak cartons and can chicken curry. Drinks such as chrysanthemum tea, wintermelon, lemon barley, bandung and grass jelly position it firmly as an Asian brand, as does its canned chicken curry, chicken rendang, sardines, and prawn and anchovy sambals. It also puts out instant noodles, kaya, and laksa and rendang pastes, among other offerings. With people wanting to eat and drink more healthily, its drinks also come in less sugar and sugar-free versions. To celebrate SG60, the brand has come up with a limited-edition Orchid Chrysanthemum Tea, which has orchid extract added to tea brewed with hang bai ju chrysanthemum flowers.

American Airlines' new Airbus jet grounded by supply chain issue
American Airlines' new Airbus jet grounded by supply chain issue

Business Times

time39 minutes ago

  • Business Times

American Airlines' new Airbus jet grounded by supply chain issue

[TEXAS] American Airlines Group has finally taken possession of its first long-range Airbus A321XLR aircraft, but the plane will remain in Europe because of a supply chain issue that's caused a shortage of seats. The carrier signed paperwork to accept the plane in Hamburg, Germany, on Friday (Jul 25), American said. The company, which ordered 50 of the longer-range aircraft in 2019, plans to initially use this first plane on US transcontinental routes later this year before shifting it to international service. The aircraft is part of American's plan to increase its long-haul fleet to 200 in 2029 from about 125 today. It will also help it capitalise on rising consumer demand for upscale travel options. The aircraft, equipped with 20 suites and 12 premium seats, has the longest range of any single-aisle commercial jet. The plane 'will remain in Europe until ongoing seat supply chain challenges are resolved', the airline said, declining to name the seat manufacturer. Aircraft built in Europe currently get 10 per cent tariffs as part of US President Donald Trump's trade war. The A321XLR delay is not related to those levies, American said. Chief executive officer Robert Isom said in April that the carrier did not plan to absorb extra tariff charges. Delta Air Lines also has new Airbus jets stranded in Europe, because their seats have not yet been certified by regulators, Bloomberg reported earlier this month, citing sources familiar with the matter. The carrier has been cannibalising some of the stranded aircraft by stripping off their US-made engines and using them to get grounded planes in America back into service. BLOOMBERG

Hackers hit a US app called Tea, where women review men they've dated
Hackers hit a US app called Tea, where women review men they've dated

Straits Times

time2 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Hackers hit a US app called Tea, where women review men they've dated

Find out what's new on ST website and app. Stolen pictures included some 13,000 selfies or images featuring photo identification submitted to verify Tea accounts. SAN FRANCISCO - An American app that lets women share 'red flags' or feedback about men they have dated called 'Tea' confirmed on July 25 that hackers had accessed some 72,000 images including user IDs. A preliminary investigation indicated hackers early on July 25 accessed a 'legacy' storage system holding images uploaded by users who signed up before February 2024, a Tea spokeswoman told AFP. Stolen pictures included some 13,000 selfies or images featuring photo identification submitted to verify Tea accounts, according to the spokeswoman. The rest of the pictures were from posts, comments or messages publicly viewable in the app, the company said. No email address or phone number data was accessed, according to Tea. Tea's website boasts a 'sisterhood' of more than 1.6 million women who can share dating advice and experiences anonymously on the platform. The app has attracted interest and triggered controversy with its promise to help women avoid problematic men and get intel on dating prospects. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia Behind deadly Thai-Cambodian clashes, a bitter spat between two dynastic leaders Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Sport Mikkel Lee gets back up to speed as Singapore swimmers eye 2028 Olympics spots Business How parents can prevent disputes over their properties Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at this novel club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Critics point out privacy risks of date reviews that include photos and names, while fans tout the potential for women to avoid manipulative, dishonest, or violent encounters. Tea became the top free app in the Lifestyle category in Apple's App Store this week after it went viral on social media. Copies of ID card photos swiped from Tea were posted on July 25 on 4Chan, an online forum known for 'incel' culture and rampant misinformation, according to screenshots shared on Reddit and other sites. The security breach, involving images of IDs like driver licenses, exposes victims to the risk of stalking or identity theft, according to Mr Trey Ford, head of security at cybersecurity company Bugcrowd. 'Connecting usernames to actual legal names and home addresses exposes these women to a variety of concerns,' Mr Ford told AFP. 'Identity theft is only the tip of this iceberg.' AFP

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