Hadi's son-in-law paints racist dystopia on news of first Chinese Lt General
Taking to Facebook yesterday, Sungai Buloh PAS division chief Zaharuddin Muhammad penned a brief news report from the future to supposedly illustrate his stance against the milestone.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Oil falls ahead of Trump-Putin summit in Alaska
LONDON: Oil prices fell on Friday as traders awaited talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which some expect could lead to an easing of the sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine war. Brent crude futures fell 50 cents, or 0.8%, to $66.34 a barrel by 0923 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures declined 57 cents, or 0.9%, to $63.39. At Friday's meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, a ceasefire in the Ukraine is at the top of the agenda. Trump has said he believes Russia is prepared to end the war in Ukraine. However, he is also threatening to impose secondary sanctions on countries that buy Moscow's oil if the peace talks don't advance. 'The market is watching out for whether there is a ceasefire or not. An expectation of a ceasefire translates into more Russian production,' said Giovanni Staunovo, commodity analyst at UBS. 'The question is will there be escalation or de-escalation?' Even if there is a deal, it would likely take longer to ease sanctions on Russia because that would have to go through the U.S. Congress, Staunovo said. For the week, WTI is set to drop 0.7% while Brent is set to rise 0.4%. Also out on Friday was weaker economic data from China, which spurred worries about fuel demand. Chinese government data showed factory output growth slumped to an eight-month low and retail sales growth expanded at its slowest pace since December, weighing on sentiment despite stronger oil throughput in the world's second-largest crude user. Throughput at Chinese refineries rose 8.9% year-on-year in July, however, that was down from June levels, which were the highest since September 2023. Despite the increase, China's oil product exports last month were also up from a year ago, suggesting lower domestic fuel demand. Forecasts of a growing oil market surplus also weighed on sentiment, as did the prospect of higher-for-longer U.S. interest rates. Bank of America analysts said in a Thursday note they were widening their forecast for the oil market surplus, citing growing supplies from OPEC+, a group consisting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other allies. The analysts now project an average surplus of 890,000 barrels per day from July 2025 through June 2026. That forecast follows predictions earlier this week from the International Energy Agency saying the oil market looks 'bloated' after the OPEC+ increases - REUTERS
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
Local parties like STAR well-equipped to represent Sabahans
Kenny Chua KOTA KINABALU (Aug 15): The upcoming 17th Sabah state election (PRN17) is set to showcase the growing strength and credibility of local-based parties, with Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) asserting its readiness to represent the diverse voices of Sabahans — including those in Chinese-majority constituencies. STAR Deputy President Datuk Kenny Chua said voters in Sabah, particularly in urban and Chinese-majority areas, are increasingly placing their trust in local parties that are better attuned to the state's unique political and social fabric. 'The winds have changed. Sabahans, including the Chinese community, are increasingly looking to local parties that can genuinely represent their voices and aspirations,' Chua said. His remarks come in response to Sabah DAP Deputy Chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin's recent claim that the party is confident of winning between eight to ten seats, including defending its six constituencies and reclaiming Sri Tanjong and Elopura. Chua cautioned against relying too heavily on past voting trends, stressing that the political landscape has evolved. 'Voter sentiment today is driven by real engagement, accountability, and local understanding,' he said. He added that STAR is not only preparing to contest in more constituencies, but is also specifically targeting several with strong Chinese voter bases — a reflection of growing grassroots support across communities. 'This is not just a strategic move. It's a direct response to what we believe is the people's call for more grounded, Sabah-based leadership. Local parties like STAR are fully capable of championing the interests of all Sabahans — Chinese included,' he said. Chua noted that local-based parties are increasingly seen as more equipped to address on-the-ground concerns, as they are not tied to Peninsular-based political interests and agendas. As Sabah heads into what is expected to be a highly competitive election, the contest will likely spotlight the rising role of state-rooted parties that promise inclusive and responsive leadership grounded in Sabah's diverse reality.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Citing China's ‘significant steps', Trump extends US tariff truce
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending by 90 days the US's tariff truce with China, removing the risk of an immediate escalation hours before the ceasefire was set to expire, but leaving trade relations fragile. In the order released Monday night, Trump said that he took the action because Beijing had taken 'significant steps' towards 'remedying non-reciprocal trade arrangements and addressing the concerns of the United States relating to economic and national security matters'. The new deadline, according to the order, would be 12am Eastern time on November 10, and the current 10 per cent 'reciprocal' tariff on Chinese imports would continue to be in effect until then. 'The United States continues to have discussions with the PRC to address the lack of trade reciprocity in our economic relationship and our resulting national and economic security concerns,' the order said. In a statement on Tuesday, China's Ministry of Commerce confirmed that both sides had agreed to extend the tariff truce for another 90 days from August 12, with the remaining 10 per cent tariff still in place. China will adopt or maintain all necessary administrative measures to suspend or remove the non-tariff countermeasures taken against the US as agreed in the Geneva Joint Statement, the ministry added. If the Tuesday deadline was not extended, US duties on Chinese imports would have climbed back to their levels in April, at the height of the tariff war between the world's two largest trading nations. The decision follows two weeks of speculation and mixed signals from Washington, after negotiators from China and the US concluded trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, last month. After the talks, Chinese negotiators declared a consensus for an extension of the pause on tariff increases, while the American side insisted that no deal would be final without Trump's explicit approval. Both sides were expected to extend the tariff truce by another three months following the talks, sources told the Post before discussions began. The two nations would avoid imposing additional tariffs or escalating the trade war by other means during the extension, one source said. Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council, said in a statement on Tuesday that the US business community 'welcomes the decision'. 'The extension is critical to give the two governments time to negotiate an agreement that improves US market access in China, addresses the bilateral trade imbalance, and provides the certainty needed for companies to make medium- and long-term plans,' Stein said. 'Securing an agreement on fentanyl that leads to a reduction in US tariffs and a rollback of China's retaliatory measures is acutely needed to restart US agriculture and energy exports.' Just ahead of the tariff truce deadline, Trump urged China to quadruple its purchases of American soybeans – a major export to China. 'China is worried about its shortage of soybeans. Our great farmers produce the most robust soybeans,' he said in a social media post late on Sunday. 'I hope China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders. This is also a way of substantially reducing China's Trade Deficit with the USA. Rapid service will be provided. Thank you President XI,' Trump added. China's soybean imports from the US plunged by 27.8 per cent to US$2.08 billion in the second quarter as the US-China trade war intensified, from US$2.89 billion a year prior, according to Chinese customs data. In terms of volume, China's soybean imports from the US dropped by 8.7 per cent from 5.02 million metric tonnes in the same period last year to 4.58 million metric tonnes. On Sunday, US Vice-President J.D. Vance told the media that Trump is 'thinking' about slapping new tariffs on imports from China in response to the country's purchases of Russian oil. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that President Xi Jinping was expected to attend an Asean summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur in October, potentially turning the annual talks into a stage for a high-stakes meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest superpowers. Trump said last week that the two leaders could have a meeting 'before the end of the year' if both sides can come to a trade deal. Since April, the US has gradually increased tariffs on Chinese imports to as much as 145 per cent. In retaliation, Beijing imposed tariffs of up to 125 per cent and introduced export controls on strategic raw materials. In May, both sides agreed in Geneva to a 90-day suspension of new tariffs. After a similar meeting in London in June, Beijing accelerated the approvals for exports of rare earth minerals to the US, while Washington resumed reviewing licence applications for shipments of Nvidia's H20 artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China. Still, several hurdles continue to hinder prospects of improved China-US trade ties, including Washington's deal with Vietnam aimed at curbing Chinese transshipments, along with the US' new AI action plan that keeps tight technology restrictions on China in place. Meanwhile, Washington is expected to press Beijing for 'large purchases' of US goods to narrow the trade deficit, even as customs data show Chinese imports of many American commodities have plunged – or in some cases, stopped entirely – in recent months. Some analysts say that Beijing sees itself as having the upper hand in negotiations, despite Trump's delayed approval following the Stockholm meetings and push for more soybean orders. 'China believes that its control over rare earth mineral export remains a strong leverage against the US in the ongoing trade negotiations,' said William Yang, a senior analyst for northeast Asia at the International Crisis Group, adding that Beijing would continue to use its pull to secure further extensions or pressure the US to make concessions without making any of its own. Wendy Cutler, a vice-president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said that compared to the last major trade negotiation between the two countries – which culminated in a phase-one trade deal in 2020 – Beijing comes to the table with 'much more negotiating leverage' and will 'undoubtedly' use it to ask the US to relax its export controls on chips and chip equipment. David Meale, who leads the China practice at the Eurasia Group, stressed that both sides have significant leverage. 'The US has many cards to play as well, evident in how it imposed export controls on advanced chips and other goods after China retaliated with higher tariffs after the US levies announced' in April, he said. Meale, a former US diplomat, added that Trump's delay in confirming the extension and his last-minute messaging about soybean imports suggest 'a desire to wring all possible leverage out of the process'. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
