
CNA938 Rewind - Will they or won't they: U.S tariffs continue to cause uncertainty
U.S President Donald Trump can celebrate a temporary reprieve for his aggressive tariff strategy, after an appeals court preserved his sweeping import duties on China and other trading partners -- for now. The short-term relief will allow the appeal process to proceed, after the U.S Court of International Trade barred most of the tariffs announced since Trump took office. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin learn more from Kevin Chen, Associate Research Fellow with the U.S. Programme, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, RSIS.
CNA938 Rewind - Will they or won't they: U.S tariffs continue to cause uncertainty
U.S President Donald Trump can celebrate a temporary reprieve for his aggressive tariff strategy, after an appeals court preserved his sweeping import duties on China and other trading partners -- for now. The short-term relief will allow the appeal process to proceed, after the U.S Court of International Trade barred most of the tariffs announced since Trump took office. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin learn more from Kevin Chen, Associate Research Fellow with the U.S. Programme, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, RSIS.
13 mins
CNA938 Rewind - France is first European country Singapore has CSP with
France and Singapore will grow cooperation in areas like civilian nuclear energy, intelligence sharing and defence technology. This upgrades the two nations' relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) – marking Singapore's first CSP with a European country. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with Dr Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
16 mins
CNA938 Rewind - "Living & Remembering" - a film dedicated to my late Dad, by Agnes Goh
In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with Agnes Goh, a Singaporean writer, producer and actress about "Living & Remembering", a 20-minute short film inspired by and dedicated to her late father K. H. Goh. "Living & Remembering" is about a young woman who uncovers the sacrifices her father made for his family. The film also shows how the father insists on fulfilling a decade-long promise—a family trip to Japan despite struggling with cancer. Goh will discuss how the film was made, how she dealt with grief while producing and writing the film, and what it was like filming scenes with the actor playing her Dad.
35 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Najip Ali and Infinite Studios' Mike Wiluan - Pesta Perdana 2025 winners
In 'Made in SG', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with winners of awards show, Pesta Perdana 2025, which include co-host Najip Ali. Pesta Perdana is a Mediacorp awards ceremony honouring the best in the Malay media industry in Singapore. Mike Wiluan, CEO of Infinite Studios and writer/ director of Operandi Gerhana, talks more about the period crime drama series which clinched the 'Best Drama Series', 'Best Actress' and 'Best Supporting Actor' awards. Najip talks about how the Malay entertainment industry has evolved over the decades.
19 mins
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CNA
15 minutes ago
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Israel's finance minister announces settlement plan to 'bury' idea of Palestinian state
TEL AVIV: Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced work would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said would "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian government, allies and campaign groups condemned the scheme, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up any internationally backed peace plans for the region. Standing at the site of the planned settlement in Maale Adumim on Thursday (Aug 14), Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the E1 development, though there was no immediate confirmation from either. 'Whoever in the world is trying to recognise a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighbourhoods," Smotrich said. Israel froze construction plans at Maale Adumim in 2012, and again after a revival in 2020, because of objections from the US, European allies and other powers who considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians. The move could further isolate Israel, which has watched some of its Western allies condemn its military offensive in Gaza and announce they will recognise a Palestinian state. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. In a statement headlined "Burying the idea of a Palestinian state", Smotrich's spokesperson said the minister had approved the plan to build 3,401 houses for Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Maale Adumim, Smotrich told Reuters the plan would go into effect on Wednesday. Breaking the Silence, an Israeli rights group established by former Israeli soldiers, criticised Smotrich, accusing him of encouraging West Bank settlement activity while the world's attention was on the Gaza war. "This land grab and settlement expansion will not only further fragment the Palestinian territory, but will further entrench apartheid," it said. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian president's spokesperson, called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop settlement building. "The EU rejects any territorial change that is not part of a political agreement between involved parties. So annexation of territory is illegal under international law," European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said during a press briefing. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the move showed that Israel "seeks to appropriate land owned by Palestinians in order to prevent a two-state solution". Qatar, which has mediated between Hamas and Israel in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, condemned Smotrich's actions as a "blatant violation of international law". HOUSE BUILDING "IN A YEAR" Peace Now, which tracks settlement activity in the West Bank, said there were still steps needed before construction. But if all went through, infrastructure work could begin within a few months, and house building in about a year. 'The E1 plan is deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution. We are standing at the edge of an abyss, and the government is driving us forward at full speed," Peace Now said in a statement. Palestinians were already demoralised by the Israeli military campaign which has killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities, and fear Israel will ultimately push them out of that territory. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. The two-state plan envisages a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, existing side by side with Israel. Israel cites historical and biblical ties to the area and says the settlements provide strategic depth and security. Most of the global community considers all settlements illegal under international law. Israel rejects this interpretation, saying the West Bank is "disputed" rather than "occupied" territory. Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand imposed sanctions in June on Smotrich and another far-right minister who advocates for settlement expansion, accusing both of them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.


CNA
15 minutes ago
- CNA
Dutch payments firm Adyen trims forecast as US tariffs hurt customers
Adyen cut its annual revenue forecast on Thursday, citing U.S. tariffs hurting the growth of the Dutch payment company's customers. The Amsterdam-based firm's shares were down 9.2 per cent by 1331 GMT, after falling as much as 20.5 per cent earlier in the session. Adyen said the slight acceleration in net revenue growth it expected this year now appeared "unlikely." But it reaffirmed its midterm target of an annual net revenue percentage growth in the twenties, up to and including 2026. A broader client base and global reach has helped Adyen weather shifts in consumer spending better than peers like Worldline and Nexi. But that international exposure also leaves it vulnerable to currency volatility and trade tensions. "The part that we see going less well ... is what we call market volume growth, so the growth of our own customers," finance chief Ethan Tandowsky told Reuters, when asked about the impact of tariffs and the end of de minimis exemption. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump scrapped the "de minimis" duty exemption that allowed low-value commercial shipments to be sent to the U.S. without tariffs, hitting ecommerce platforms like eBay, one of Adyen's biggest clients. "We expect earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin to expand in 2025, albeit at a more moderate rate than in 2024," Adyen said. Adyen's half-year net revenue missed market expectations despite a 20 per cent yearly rise, standing at 1.09 billion euros ($1.27 billion) against the 1.11 billion euros expected by 16 analysts polled by LSEG. Its half-year EBITDA also missed estimates, coming in at 543.7 million euros; analysts had forecast around 550.8 million euros on average. KBC Securities analysts called the semester "underwhelming" and said it may pressure the company's shares.


CNA
15 minutes ago
- CNA
Israel's Smotrich announces settlement plan to 'bury' idea of Palestinian state
TEL AVIV: Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced work would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said would "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian government, allies and campaign groups condemned the scheme, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up any internationally backed peace plans for the region. Standing at the site of the planned settlement in Maale Adumim on Thursday (Aug 14), Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the E1 development, though there was no immediate confirmation from either. 'Whoever in the world is trying to recognise a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighbourhoods," Smotrich said. Israel froze construction plans at Maale Adumim in 2012, and again after a revival in 2020, because of objections from the US, European allies and other powers who considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians. The move could further isolate Israel, which has watched some of its Western allies condemn its military offensive in Gaza and announce they will recognise a Palestinian state. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. In a statement headlined "Burying the idea of a Palestinian state," Smotrich's spokesperson said the minister had approved the plan to build 3,401 houses for Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Maale Adumim, Smotrich told Reuters the plan would go into effect on Wednesday. Breaking the Silence, an Israeli rights group established by former Israeli soldiers, criticised Smotrich, accusing him of encouraging West Bank settlement activity while the world's attention was on the Gaza war. "This land grab and settlement expansion will not only further fragment the Palestinian territory, but will further entrench apartheid," it said. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian president's spokesperson, called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop settlement building. "The EU rejects any territorial change that is not part of a political agreement between involved parties. So annexation of territory is illegal under international law," European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said during a press briefing. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the move showed that Israel "seeks to appropriate land owned by Palestinians in order to prevent a two-state solution". Qatar, which has mediated between Hamas and Israel in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, condemned Smotrich's actions as a "blatant violation of international law". HOUSE BUILDING "IN A YEAR" Peace Now, which tracks settlement activity in the West Bank, said there were still steps needed before construction. But if all went through, infrastructure work could begin within a few months, and house building in about a year. 'The E1 plan is deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution. We are standing at the edge of an abyss, and the government is driving us forward at full speed," Peace Now said in a statement. Palestinians were already demoralised by the Israeli military campaign which has killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities, and fear Israel will ultimately push them out of that territory. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. The two-state plan envisages a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, existing side by side with Israel. Israel cites historical and biblical ties to the area and says the settlements provide strategic depth and security. Most of the global community considers all settlements illegal under international law. Israel rejects this interpretation, saying the West Bank is "disputed" rather than "occupied" territory. Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand imposed sanctions in June on Smotrich and another far-right minister who advocates for settlement expansion, accusing both of them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.