While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 16, 2025
US President Donald Trump on July 15 announced a trade deal with Indonesia, the latest pact in a bid to cement better terms with trading partners and reduce a massive trade deficit.
'Great deal, for everybody, just made with Indonesia. I dealt directly with their highly respected President. Details to follow!!!' Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Indonesia's total trade with the US – totalling just under US$40 billion (S$51.4 billion) in 2024 – does not rank in the top 15, but it has been growing. US exports to Indonesia rose 3.7 per cent in 2024, while imports from there were up 4.8 per cent, leaving the US with a goods trade deficit of nearly US$18 billion.
The top US import categories from Indonesia, according to US Census Bureau data retrieved on the International Trade Centre's TradeMap tool, in 2024 were palm oil, electronics equipment including data routers and switches, footwear, car tyres, natural rubber and frozen shrimp.
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Trump says Zelensky should not target Moscow
US President Donald Trump said on July 15 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should not target Moscow and that Russian President Vladimir Putin should agree to a ceasefire deal by a 50-day deadline or sanctions will kick in.
His comments came after The Financial Times, citing people briefed on discussions, reported on July 15 that Mr Trump had privately encouraged Ukraine to step up deep strikes on Russia.
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Singapore Las Vegas Sands' new development part of S'pore's broader, more ambitious transformation: PM Wong
Singapore Economic headwinds do not dampen outlook for new Marina Bay development: Las Vegas Sands president
Business MAS records net profit of $19.7 billion, fuelled by investment gains
Singapore Man charged with attempted murder of woman at Kallang Wave Mall
Singapore CDL's long-time director Philip Yeo to depart after boardroom feud
Singapore Ex-cleaner jailed over safety lapses linked to guard's death near 1-Altitude rooftop bar
Life The Violinist, Singapore's first animated historical film, set for August 2026 release
Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years
The newspaper added that Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky whether he could strike Moscow if the US provided long-range weapons.
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Waltz says US needs strong voice to counter China
The United Nations needs reform and the United States must have a strong voice to counter China, Mr Mike Waltz, US President Donald Trump's pick to be his UN envoy, said on July 15, adding that he is 'confident we can make the UN great again.'
Mr Waltz - a retired Army Green Beret and former Republican lawmaker from Florida - is the last member of Mr Trump's Cabinet awaiting likely confirmation by the US Senate. On July 15, he appeared before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee as part of that process.
'We should have one place in the world where everyone can talk, where China, Russia, Europe, the developing world can come together and resolve conflicts,' Mr Waltz told the committee. 'But after 80 years, it's drifted from its core mission of peacemaking. We must return to the UN's charter and first principles.'
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Men jailed 4 years for felling Britain's 'Robin Hood' tree
PHOTO: AFP
Two men were each jailed for over four years on July 15 for cutting down Britain's 'Sycamore Gap' tree, a much-loved and well-known global landmark whose dramatic silhouette had featured in a Hollywood movie.
The sycamore, estimated to be almost 200 years old, stood at the centre of a dramatic dip in the landscape alongside the historic Hadrian's Wall in northern England, making it a popular spot for photographers, hikers and even marriage proposals.
Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were found guilty in June of travelling from their homes in the middle of the night in September 2023 to deliberately cut it down with a chainsaw.
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Severance leads Emmy nominations with 27
PHOTO: APPLE TV+
Apple TV+'s dark sci-fi office drama Severance on July 15 led the contenders for the Emmy Awards, television's version of the Oscars, with a whopping 27 nominations.
The Penguin, HBO Max's Batman villain spinoff series, came in second with 24, while HBO Max's The White Lotus and Apple's The Studio tied for third, with 23 nominations each.
The announcement from the Television Academy was the official start of the race to the 77th Emmy Awards, set for Sept 14 in Los Angeles.
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Zelenskiy says he wants half Ukraine's weapons to be produced domestically
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US judge fails to rule on status of returned deportee Abrego; future of smuggling case uncertain
FILE PHOTO: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador, is seen wearing a Chicago Bulls hat, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 9, 2025. Abrego Garcia Family/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT./File Photo NASHVILLE, Tennessee - A federal judge in Tennessee failed to rule on Wednesday on the legal status of Kilmar Abrego, the migrant returned to the U.S. after being wrongly deported to El Salvador, prolonging uncertainty about the fate of Abrego, who was in the courtroom. Federal prosecutors sought to convince U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville to reverse a magistrate judge's ruling allowing Abrego - who faces human smuggling charges - to be released on bail to await a trial. A Department of Homeland Security investigator, Peter Joseph, testified about the investigation, detailing information authorities learned from alleged co-conspirators with Abrego in a migrant smuggling ring. Crenshaw did not rule on Wednesday. Even if the judge orders him released from criminal custody, President Donald Trump's administration has said Abrego will immediately be detained by immigration authorities and face a second deportation. Abrego, a 29-year-old Salvadoran migrant who had been living in Maryland, has remained in legal limbo for weeks as Trump administration officials have given conflicting accounts of whether he will be tried in a U.S. court or quickly removed from the country again. Abrego was deported and imprisoned in his native El Salvador in March despite a 2019 court order barring him from being sent there because of a risk of gang persecution. Abrego has become one of the most high-profile figures in the Trump administration's sweeping immigration crackdown. Rights groups and administration critics have held up his case as evidence of the administration's willingness to violate legal rights and evade courts in its effort to deport millions living illegally in the U.S. The Trump administration, which portrays illegal immigration as a grave public safety threat, has alleged Abrego is a member of the MS-13 gang, a charge his lawyers deny. The Justice Department brought Abrego back to the U.S. last month after securing an indictment charging him with taking part in a smuggling ring to bring immigrants to the U.S. illegally. He was accused of picking up migrants, including children, near the U.S.-Mexico border and transporting them to locations across the U.S. Abrego has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers say the Trump administration brought the charges to cover up violations of Abrego's rights, and say alleged co-conspirators cooperating with prosecutors should not be trusted because they are seeking relief from deportation and criminal charges of their own. A magistrate judge ordered Abrego released on bail last month, finding prosecutors had not shown evidence he needed to be detained before trial. Abrego's attorneys have expressed concerns he will be quickly deported without a chance to challenge his removal. In a separate civil lawsuit over Abrego's wrongful deportation, the Trump administration has indicated it would most likely seek to deport Abrego to a third country, not El Salvador, floating Mexico and South Sudan as options. REUTERS
Straits Times
37 minutes ago
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Returned deportee Abrego appears in Tennessee court; future of smuggling case uncertain
FILE PHOTO: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador, is seen wearing a Chicago Bulls hat, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 9, 2025. Abrego Garcia Family/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT./File Photo NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Kilmar Abrego, the migrant returned to the U.S. after being wrongly deported to El Salvador, appeared in court on Wednesday on human smuggling charges as the future of his criminal case and his presence in the country remain uncertain. Federal prosecutors are seeking to convince U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville, Tennessee, to reverse a magistrate judge's ruling allowing Abrego to be released on bail to await a trial. Even if the judge orders him released from criminal custody, which could happen later on Wednesday, President Donald Trump's administration has said Abrego will immediately be detained by immigration authorities and face a second deportation. Abrego, a 29-year-old Salvadoran migrant who had been living in Maryland, has remained in legal limbo for weeks as Trump administration officials have given conflicting accounts of whether he will be tried in a U.S. court or quickly removed from the country again. Abrego was deported and imprisoned in his native El Salvador in March despite a 2019 court order barring him from being sent there because of a risk of gang persecution. Abrego has become one of the most high-profile figures in the Trump administration's sweeping immigration crackdown. Rights groups and administration critics have held up his case as evidence of the administration's willingness to violate legal rights and evade courts in its effort to deport millions living illegally in the U.S. The Trump administration, which portrays illegal immigration as a grave public safety threat, has alleged Abrego is a member of the MS-13 gang, a charge his lawyers deny. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence Sport 'Like being in a washing machine with 40 deg C water': Open water swimmers brave challenging conditions Singapore Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A Singapore ComfortDelGro to introduce new taxi cancellation, waiting fee policy Business Cathay Cineplexes gets fresh demands to pay up $3.3m debt for Century Square, Causeway Point outlets Singapore Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo The Justice Department brought Abrego back to the U.S. last month after securing an indictment charging him with taking part in a smuggling ring to bring immigrants to the U.S. illegally. He was accused of picking up migrants, including children, near the U.S.-Mexico border and transporting them to locations across the U.S. Abrego has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers say the Trump administration brought the charges to cover up violations of Abrego's rights, and say alleged co-conspirators cooperating with prosecutors should not be trusted because they are seeking relief from deportation and criminal charges of their own. A magistrate judge ordered Abrego released on bail last month, finding prosecutors had not shown evidence he needed to be detained before trial. Prosecutors are appealing that ruling and called a Department of Homeland Security investigator as a witness on Wednesday to testify about the probe. The investigator, Peter Joseph, testified about a November 2022 traffic stop in which Tennessee police pulled over a vehicle Abrego was allegedly driving that had several passengers inside. Abrego told police at the time he was driving back from a construction site. Authorities allege the trip was part of the smuggling operation. In an unusual move, Abrego's attorneys asked the judge to delay Abrego's potential release from criminal custody until Wednesday, citing concerns he will be quickly deported without a chance to challenge his removal. In a separate civil lawsuit over Abrego's wrongful deportation, the Trump administration has indicated it would most likely seek to deport Abrego to a third country, not El Salvador, floating Mexico and South Sudan as options. REUTERS
