Philippine president to meet Trump in Washington to discuss trade, security and defence
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Straits Times
24 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Firm in India shipped explosives to Russia despite US warnings
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A woman carrying her pet dogs as she flees her home, following a Russian bomb attack on an apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on July 24. WASHINGTON/KYIV/NEW DELHI - An Indian company shipped US$1.4 million (S$1.7 million) worth of an explosive compound with military uses to Russia in December, according to Indian customs data seen by Reuters, despite US threats to impose sanctions on any entity supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. One of the Russian companies listed as receiving the compound - known as HMX or octogen - is the explosives manufacturer Promsintez, which an official at Ukraine's SBU security service said has ties to the country's military. The official said that Ukraine launched a drone attack in April against a Promsintez-owned factory. According to the Pentagon's Defence Technical Information Centre and related defence research programmes, HMX is widely used in missile and torpedo warheads, rocket motors, exploding projectiles and plastic-bonded explosives for advanced military systems. The US government has identified HMX as 'critical for Russia's war effort' and has warned financial institutions against facilitating any sales of the substance to Moscow. The HMX sale to Russian firms has not been previously reported. Russian defence manufacturers have been working around the clock for the past several years to sustain President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, which intensified with Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022. India, which has recently forged closer ties with the United States in an effort to counterbalance China's growing influence, has not abandoned its longstanding military and economic ties with Moscow. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Asia Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 Singapore Avoid water activities around Tuas Second Link, Raffles Marina after chemical tank accident: NEA Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore Mindef to set up new volunteer management unit to grow volunteer pool Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B India's trade with Russia - especially its purchases of Russian oil - has remained robust, even as Western nations have tried to cripple Russia's war economy with sanctions. US President Donald Trump threatened earlier in July to hit nations with a 100 per cent tariff if they continued purchasing Russian crude. The US Treasury Department has the authority to sanction those who sell HMX and similar substances to Russia, according to three sanctions lawyers. HMX is known as a 'high explosive', meaning it detonates rapidly and is designed for maximum destruction. Reuters has no indication that the HMX shipments violated Indian government policy. One Indian official with knowledge of the shipments said that the compound has some limited civilian applications, in addition to its better-known military uses. India's foreign ministry said in a statement: 'India has been carrying out exports of dual-use items taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation, and based on its robust legal and regulatory framework that includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria on such exports.' The US State Department did not comment on the specific shipments identified by Reuters but said it had repeatedly communicated to India that companies doing military-related business are at risk of sanctions. 'India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in full and frank dialogue, including on India's relationship with Russia,' a spokesperson said. 'We have repeatedly made clear to all our partners, including India, that any foreign company or financial institution that does business with Russia's military industrial base are at risk of US sanctions.' Russia's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. 'While India has not typically been among the primary jurisdictions used for circumventing sanctions, we are aware that isolated cases can occur,' Ukrainian presidential adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk told Reuters. 'We can confirm that the Russian company Promsintez has appeared on our radar in the past, including in connection with cooperation involving Indian counterparts,' added Mr Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelensky's top sanctions official. Washington woos New Delhi Reuters identified two HMX shipments sent in December by Indian firm Ideal Detonators Private Limited, both of which were unloaded in St Petersburg, according to the Indian customs data. An Indian government official with direct knowledge of the shipments confirmed them. One shipment, worth US$405,200, was purchased by a Russian company called High Technology Initiation Systems, the data show. The other shipment, worth more than US$1 million was purchased by Promsintez. Both purchasers are based in Samara Oblast, near the border of Kazakhstan in southern Russia, according to the data. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Andrei Belousov meeting Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Moscow, in December 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS Ideal Detonators Private Limited, based in the Indian state of Telangana, did not respond to a request for comment. Promsintez and High Technology Initiation Systems also did not respond to requests for comment. While several Indian entities were sanctioned during the administration of former US president Joe Biden for supporting Russia's war effort, sanctions were applied sparingly due to geopolitical considerations, according to two US officials who worked on sanctions under Mr Biden. Under Mr Trump, Russia-related sanctions work has slowed to a trickle, and it is not clear if the United States will take further action against Indian companies doing business with Russia's defence industry. Washington has long sought closer relations with India to pull the South Asian country away from China. Mr Jason Prince, a partner at Washington-based law firm Akin, said the US government often prefers to communicate its concerns privately to allies and only take punitive actions as a last resort. REUTERS
CNA
44 minutes ago
- CNA
Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71
Hulk Hogan, the American sports and entertainment star who made professional wrestling a global phenomenon and loudly supported Donald Trump for president, has died at the age of 71, World Wrestling Entertainment said on Thursday. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s," WWE said on X. It gave no cause of death. The bleach-blond, mahogany-tanned behemoth became the face of professional wrestling in the 1980s, helping transform the mock combat from a seedy spectacle into family-friendly entertainment worth billions of dollars. A key moment in that evolution came at the WrestleMania III extravaganza in 1987, when Hogan hoisted fellow wrestler André the Giant before a sold-out Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan for a thunderous body slam of the Frenchman. Hogan parlayed his wrestling fame into a less successful career in Hollywood, starring in films like "Rocky III" and "Santa With Muscles," but kept returning to the ring as long as his body would allow. In 2024, he appeared at the Republican National Convention to endorse the presidential bid of Trump, who in the 1980s had played host to Hulk-headlined WrestleManias. Hogan said he made the decision to support the Republican candidate after seeing his combative, fist-pumping reaction to an attempted assassination on the campaign trail. "Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!" Hogan bellowed to a cheering crowd, ripping off his shirt to reveal a Trump tank top. "Let Trumpamania rule again!" BECOMING 'HULK' Born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, on Aug. 11, 1953, the future Hulk and his family soon moved to the Tampa, Florida area. After high school, he played bass guitar for area rock bands, but felt a pull to the red-hot wrestling scene in Florida in the 1970s. Many of the details of his career were showbusiness exaggerations, representative of the blurred lines between fact and fiction in wrestling. His first trainer reportedly broke Hogan's leg to dissuade him from entering the business, but he kept at wrestling, weight training, and - he later admitted - anabolic steroids. He gained in notoriety as his biceps turned into what he dubbed the "24-inch pythons." The "Hulk" moniker came from comparisons to the comic-book hero portrayed on TV at the time. He would end up paying royalties to Marvel Comics for years. "Hogan" was the invention of promoter Vincent J. McMahon, the owner of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), who wanted Irish representation among his stable of stars. His appearance as wrestler Thunderlips in "Rocky III," where he dwarfed leading man Sylvester Stallone, rocketed Hogan to the mainstream. Upon a return to the WWF, now controlled by McMahon's son Vincent K., he defeated the Iron Sheik in 1984 to claim the world championship, a belt he would hold for four years. Hogan became a household name, appearing on the cover of magazine Sports Illustrated and performing alongside pop culture stars like Mr. T. The WWF came to dominate wrestling, anchored by its annual WrestleMania pay-per-view events. FACING 'THE ROCK' Later, he joined competitor World Championship Wrestling, swapping his trademark yellow tights for black and taking on a persona as the villainous "Hollywood" Hogan, the head of a gang of rulebreakers known as the New World Order. The gimmick reinvigorated his career. Hogan eventually returned to the WWF, now known as WWE, and faced Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania in 2002. "I'm in better shape than him," Hogan told Reuters at the time, five months shy of his 50th birthday. "I'll stand next to The Rock and pose down with him if he wants to." The Rock ultimately won the match. Hogan was inducted twice into the WWE Hall of Fame, and referred to himself as the "Babe Ruth" of wrestling - after the New York Yankees' famed baseball player. But Hogan's support of Trump in 2024 did not go down well with all wrestling fans, and he also faced other controversies. Gossip website Gawker was shuttered after it posted parts of a sex tape between him and a friend's wife and Hogan sued on privacy grounds, winning a $140 million judgment. In 2015, he was suspended by the WWE after another surreptitious recording revealed that Hogan had used a racial slur. He was reinstated in 2018. He was married three times and had two children, who starred alongside him and first wife Linda in a 2005-2007 reality TV show, "Hogan Knows Best."
CNA
44 minutes ago
- CNA
Fed prepares for Trump visit as tensions with White House escalate
WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve said on Thursday (Jul 24) it is working with the White House to accommodate President Donald Trump's visit to the central bank's Washington headquarters — an unusual move that comes amid heightened tensions between the administration and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. 'The Federal Reserve is working with the White House to accommodate their visit,' a Fed spokesperson said, confirming Trump's appearance, which was announced by the White House late on Wednesday. The visit, scheduled for 4pm EDT (2000 GMT), comes less than a week before the Fed's 19 policymakers are due to meet to set interest rates. Markets expect no change to the current benchmark rate of 4.25 to 4.50 per cent, which has remained unchanged since December. Trump has repeatedly demanded that Powell slash interest rates and has publicly considered firing him — though he recently said he had no plans to do so. On Tuesday, the president called Powell a 'numbskull'. WHITE HOUSE TARGETS FED RENOVATION COSTS The visit also comes as the Trump administration faces political pressure over its reversal on a promise to release Justice Department files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. As scrutiny over that decision mounts, the White House has intensified its criticism of the Fed, particularly over cost overruns in the renovation of two historic buildings. White House budget director Russell Vought claimed renovation costs were 'US$700 million and counting,' while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited the central bank's operational losses as reason for greater oversight. The Fed reported net losses of US$114.6 billion in 2023 and US$77.5 billion in 2024. The losses stem from the central bank's interest rate operations, including payments to banks that park excess reserves at the Fed. The Fed, in response, said the renovation was its first major overhaul in nearly a century and had been hampered by unforeseen challenges including toxic material removal and rising material and labour costs. It posted supporting documents on its website and outlined its rationale in letters to lawmakers. White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair and Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, a Republican, were expected to join Trump at the Fed on Thursday. CRITICISM AND CENTRAL BANK INDEPENDENCE While markets showed little immediate reaction to the news, with Wall Street trading higher and 10-year Treasury yields ticking up following strong jobless claims data, analysts noted the sensitive nature of the visit. Trump's ongoing public pressure on Powell has previously rattled markets, raising concerns about potential political interference in monetary policy. The president's appearance at the Fed contrasts with rare, more ceremonial visits by previous leaders. The last known visit by a sitting president was when George W. Bush attended the swearing-in of then-Chair Ben Bernanke. Republican Senator Mike Rounds on Thursday said he saw no issue with Trump's visit but warned that Powell must remain independent. 'I think he has to maintain his independence. That's critical for the markets,' Rounds said, while acknowledging cost challenges in the Fed's renovation project. 'The more information the president can glean from this, probably the better off we are.'
