Malaysia will focus on achieving trade target of 5% growth in 2025
The ministry will also focus on achieving its trade target of 5 per cent growth in 2025, he said in a press conference.
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Straits Times
36 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Rwanda, Congo agree on outline for economic integration framework as part of peace deal, US says
WASHINGTON/PARIS - Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday agreed on an outline for the regional economic integration framework, according to the U.S. State Department, as the two countries take steps toward delivering on a peace deal signed in Washington last month. The tenets agreed on Friday summarize the framework, which includes elements of cooperation on energy, infrastructure, mineral supply chains, national parks and public health. Rwanda and Congo signed a peace deal in Washington in June at talks held by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which aims to bring an end to fighting that has killed thousands and attract billions of dollars of Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. As part of the deal, Kinshasa and Kigali agreed to launch a regional economic integration framework within 90 days, the agreement said. A source familiar with the matter said a preliminary draft of the framework has been agreed to and there would now be an input period to get reaction from the private sector and civil society before it is finalized. The framework is planned to be signed at a meeting of heads of state at the White House. No date has been set yet for that meeting, the source said. In the Friday statement, Rwanda and Congo affirmed that each country has "full, sovereign control" over the exploitation, processing and export of its natural resources and recognized the importance of developing mineral processing and transformation capacity within each country, according to a copy seen by Reuters. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump deploys nuclear submarines in row with Russia World 'Optimistic' Bessent says US has makings of a deal with China Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Singapore Man in SAF custody after allegedly vaping on bus while in army uniform Asia 'Like me? Approach me directly, okay?': Inside a matchmaking event for China's wealthy Opinion America is tearing down another great public institution Opinion Quiet zones in public spaces can help people recharge in the city Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam Kinshasa views the plundering of its mineral wealth as a key driver of the conflict between its forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo. Reuters reported in May that Congolese minerals such as tungsten, tantalum and tin, which Kinshasa has long accused neighbouring Rwanda of illegally exploiting, could be exported legitimately to Rwanda for processing under the terms of the deal being negotiated by the U.S., according to sources. The two countries are committed to ensuring that the minerals trade no longer provides funding to armed groups and to create a world-class industrial mining sector in the region, as well as to ensure better cross-border interoperability on mineral supply chains, according to the statement. They also agreed to connect new infrastructure to the U.S.-backed Lobito Corridor, underscoring Washington's aim of greater access to resources in the region and efforts to counter China. The Ruzizi III hydropower project and Lake Kivu methane exploitation were the only specific projects mentioned in the statement, despite U.S. emphasis on critical minerals. The countries said they intended to prioritize financing for Ruzizi and work together to exploit the methane gas sustainably. REUTERS
Straits Times
36 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Musk's X must face part of lawsuit over child pornography video
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: 'X' logo is seen on the top of the headquarters of the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in downtown San Francisco, California, U.S., July 30, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo A federal appeals court on Friday revived part of a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk's X of becoming a haven for child exploitation, though the court said the platform deserves broad immunity from claims over objectionable content. While rejecting some claims, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said X, formerly Twitter, must face a claim it was negligent by failing to promptly report a video containing explicit images of two underage boys to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The case predated Musk's 2022 purchase of Twitter. A trial judge had dismissed the case in December 2023. X's lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Musk was not a defendant. One plaintiff, John Doe 1, said he was 13 when he and a friend, John Doe 2, were lured on SnapChat into providing nude photos of themselves to someone John Doe 1 thought was a 16-year-old girl at his school. The SnapChat user was actually a child pornography trafficker who blackmailed the plaintiffs into providing additional explicit photos. Those images were later compiled into a video that was posted on Twitter. According to court papers, Twitter took nine days after learning about the content to take it down and report it to NCMEC, following more than 167,000 views, court papers showed. Circuit Judge Danielle Forrest said section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which protects online platforms from liability over user content, didn't shield X from the negligence claim once it learned about the pornography. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump deploys nuclear submarines in row with Russia World 'Optimistic' Bessent says US has makings of a deal with China Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Singapore Man in SAF custody after allegedly vaping on bus while in army uniform Asia 'Like me? Approach me directly, okay?': Inside a matchmaking event for China's wealthy Opinion America is tearing down another great public institution Opinion Quiet zones in public spaces can help people recharge in the city Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam "The facts alleged here, coupled with the statutory 'actual knowledge' requirement, separates the duty to report child pornography to NCMEC from Twitter's role as a publisher," she wrote for a three-judge panel. X must also face a claim its infrastructure made it too difficult to report child pornography. It was found immune from claims it knowingly benefited from sex trafficking, and created search features that "amplify" child pornography posts. Dani Pinter, a lawyer at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, which represented the plaintiffs, said in a statement: "We look forward to discovery and ultimately trial against X to get justice and accountability." The case is Doe 1 et al v Twitter Inc et al, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 24-177. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 2, 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US President Donald Trump (left) said he was deploying two nuclear submarines in response to perceived threats from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. Trump deploys nuclear submarines in row with Russia US President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines on Aug 1 in an extraordinary escalation of what had been an online war of words with a Russian official over Ukraine and tariffs. Mr Trump and Mr Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, have been sparring on social media for days. Mr Trump's post on his Truth Social platform abruptly took that spat into the very real – and rarely publicised – sphere of nuclear forces. 'Based on the highly provocative statements,' Mr Trump said he had 'ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.' READ MORE HERE Switzerland stunned by Trump tariff rate of 39% PHOTO: BLOOMBERG Swiss manufacturers warned on Aug 1 that tens of thousands of jobs were at risk after US President Donald Trump hit them with one of the highest tariff rates in his global trade reset, even if there was some relief for now for the key drugs sector. The government said it was 'disappointed' and would decide how to proceed after Mr Trump set a 39 per cent tariff on the export-reliant country - more than double the 15 per cent rate for most European Union imports into the United States. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World 'Optimistic' Bessent says US has makings of a deal with China Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Business ST explains: How Trump tariffs could affect Singapore SMEs, jobs and markets Singapore Man in SAF custody after allegedly vaping on bus while in army uniform Asia 'Like me? Approach me directly, okay?': Inside a matchmaking event for China's wealthy Opinion America is tearing down another great public institution Opinion Quiet zones in public spaces can help people recharge in the city Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam The levy - up from an originally proposed 31 per cent tariff that Swiss officials had described as 'incomprehensible' - is a body blow for the small Alpine nation, which counts the US as the top export market for its pharmaceuticals, watches, machinery and chocolates. READ MORE HERE Trump orders firing of US jobs official amid cracks President Donald Trump said on Aug 1 he has ordered the firing of a key economic official, accusing her of manipulating employment data for political reasons – without giving evidence – after a new report showed cracks in the US jobs market. US job growth missed expectations in July, Labour Department data showed, and revisions to hiring figures in recent months brought them to the weakest levels since the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Trump lashed out at the department's commissioner of labour statistics – Dr Erika McEntarfer – after the report, writing on social media that the jobs numbers 'were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.' READ MORE HERE Man in SAF custody after allegedly vaping on bus SCREENSHOT: WHATSAPP/ADMINSGFOLLOWS A person who appears to be vaping while dressed in an army uniform has been identified and is now in the custody of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). In a media reply, Mindef said it is also looking into an online video, which showed the person allegedly using an e-vaporiser while on board a public bus. The clip began making its rounds on social media on July 31. Mindef added that the possession and use of vapes by its service personnel is 'both a matter of military discipline and an offence under national law'. READ MORE HERE Red Bull reprimanded over Verstappen face towel Formula One stewards reprimanded Red Bull on Aug 1 for a bizarre incident involving Max Verstappen throwing a face towel out of his car and onto the track during Hungarian Grand Prix practice. The four-times world champion was summoned after the second session at the Hungaroring as stewards reviewed the video evidence. 'Shortly after Car 1 was released from its garage, the driver of Car 1 (Verstappen) was observed to have thrown a towel out of the cockpit,' they said in a statement.
