Latest news with #160
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
CPO futures to trade with bearish bias next week on weak soybean, crude oil prices
KUALA LUMPUR: The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is expected to trade with a bearish bias next week, weighed down by persistent weakness in the soybean oil and crude oil markets. Palm oil trader David Ng said the recent downtrend in soybean oil and crude oil prices is likely to limit gains in the CPO market, as these external markets heavily influence palm oil sentiment. "Soybean oil and palm oil compete in the global vegetable oil market, and when soybean oil prices decline, buyers may shift towards it, reducing demand for palm oil. "We expect prices to trade between RM4,050 and RM4,200 per tonne next week," he told Bernama. On a weekly basis, the July 2025 contract rose RM75 to RM4,070 per tonne, while August 2025 gained RM91 to RM4,144 per tonne. September 2025 increased RM112 to RM4,174 per tonne, October 2025 climbed RM113 to RM4,177 per tonne, November 2025 added RM109 to RM4,174 per tonne, and December 2025 advanced RM103 to RM4,175 per tonne. The weekly trading volume increased to 435,464 lots from 253,182 lots in the previous week, while open interest went up to 231,427 contracts from 226,243 contracts. The physical CPO price for July South increased by RM110 to RM4,160 per tonne.
Business Recorder
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FIA arrests former RAILCOP officials over Rs1.17bn fake bank guarantees scam
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested three former senior officials of RAILCOP, a subsidiary of Pakistan Railways, in a high-profile corruption case involving fake bank guarantees worth over Rs1.16 billion, a statement from the Ministry of Railways said on Thursday. Those arrested include Syed Najam Saeed, former chief executive officer of RAILCOP; Muhammad Zubair Hussain, ex-controller finance and accounts; and Meh Run Nisa, former director of commercial & marketing. The arrests were made by the FIA's Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad under FIR No. 37/2025 registered on June 30, according to the statement. The three former executives are accused of colluding with Irfan Hameed Khan, chairman of M/s Indus Valley Industrial Junction (IVIJ), to prepare and submit 14 fake/bogus bank guarantees of United Bank Limited and Bank Al Habib Limited worth Rs1.17 billion in favour of different government departments for participation in tendering processes of development projects. According to the statement, M/s IVIJ received Rs164,969,160/- (nearly Rs165 million) as commission from RAILCOP Islamabad in respect of providing said 14 fake/bogus Bank Guarantees illegally. 'Thus, they caused huge loss to the tune of Rs164,969,160/- to national exchequer,' the ministry said, 'Tomorrow they will be produced in court for remand.' Investigation is underway.
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Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Trump's push to end birthright citizenship may succeed, but not for long
H-1B visa holders and other immigrants—both legal and undocumented—are facing fresh uncertainty in the United States, following a Supreme Court ruling that could pave the way for ending birthright citizenship in parts of the country. On June 28, 2025, the US Supreme Court restricted the power of lower-court judges to issue nationwide injunctions. That ruling has allowed President Donald Trump's executive order to proceed—at least temporarily—in several states. The order, signed in January, seeks to end the automatic granting of US citizenship to children born to non-citizen parents. This interpretation challenges a long-held understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil, regardless of the legal status of their parents. Patchy rules and legal scramble The immediate outcome is far from uniform. Legal experts say the ruling could create a fragmented map across the US, where the executive order is enforced in some states but not in others. 'If the restrictions are not blocked nationwide, they could be applied in the 28 states that did not challenge them in court,' said Kathleen Bush-Joseph, policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. 'That could create an extremely confusing patchwork.' She questioned how the policy would play out in hospitals. 'Would individual doctors, individual hospitals be having to try to figure out how to determine the citizenship of babies and their parents?' she asked. Trump, speaking at a White House briefing on Friday, defended his stance: 'Hundreds of thousands of people are pouring into our country under birthright citizenship, and it wasn't meant for that reason.' Legal challenges underway The ruling hasn't ended the legal battle. On the same day, plaintiffs filed an amended lawsuit in a federal court in Maryland, trying to convert their case into a nationwide class action. Their aim is to represent 'all children who have been born or will be born in the United States on or after February 19, 2025,' who would be denied citizenship under Executive Order 14,160, and their parents. Joel Yanovich, a US-based immigration attorney with Murthy Law, said litigation is far from over. 'The Supreme Court significantly limited the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions. But, the ongoing lawsuits challenging Trump's executive order on this are continuing. And, there is good reason to believe that they ultimately will be successful,' Yanovich told Business Standard. For now, he said, 'The Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of birthright citizenship remains in effect,' although Trump's order could come into force in some states while the lawsuits progress. Class action or chaos? The push for a class action could determine how the legal strategy plays out from here. If the class is certified, the case could offer wider protection. If not, thousands of individual lawsuits may be filed across the country. 'Legal protections for children of undocumented or temporary-resident parents will hinge on class-action certification or case-specific rulings,' Ketan Mukhija, senior partner at Burgeon Law told Business Standard. 'The broader constitutional issue remains unsettled and subject to future judicial review.' Who is affected, and who isn't Green card holders are unlikely to be affected, Yanovich said. However, the same cannot be said for most nonimmigrant workers, including those on H-1B visas. 'Most nonimmigrants, including H-1B workers, who have a child born in the United States would not automatically see US citizenship conferred to their children,' he said. Concerns among Indian families have been growing since the executive order was signed. According to media reports, some expectant mothers in their final weeks of pregnancy had requested early C-section deliveries to ensure their child's birth before the policy's start date. Even so, Yanovich added, 'We still expect this executive order to ultimately be struck down by the federal courts. But, it may take a very long time to reach this point.'
The Sun
01-07-2025
- The Sun
Over 5,000 fake guns seized in raids in three states
KUALA LUMPUR: Polcie seized more than 5,000 imitation firearms in simultaneous raids on seven premises in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Johor yesterday, arresting six individuals, including four foreign nationals. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA) director, Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said the operation was carried out by the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Intelligence Investigation (WCB/PSK) to clamp down on the illegal online sale of fake guns. He said in the first raid on two premises around Kuala Lumpur, four foreign men were arrested, and 4,983 units of imitation firearms worth an estimated RM4,113,550 were seized. 'Also seized in the raid were 1,400 boxes of snack food in violation of regulations under the Food Act 1983. 'In the second raid on two business premises in Bandar Baru Bangi, a local man was arrested and 53 imitation firearms, estimated to be worth RM31,520, were seized. The premises were found to be operating without a valid business licence,' he said in a statement today. In the third operation at a residence in Batu Pahat, Johor, a local man was arrested and 15 imitation firearms worth RM15,000 were confiscated. Azmi said the total value of seizures from all three raids was estimated at RM4,160,070 and that all suspects, aged between 28 and 40, are being investigated under Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960, the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Food Act 1983, the Trade Licensing By-Laws, and the Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982. Preliminary investigations revealed that the imitation firearms were sold through online platforms over the past few months. Azmi also warned e-commerce and social media platform operators to monitor sales activities on their platforms and ensure illegal items are not sold. 'The public is also advised not to engage in the purchase or possession of imitation firearms and to report any relevant information to the police immediately,' he said. Azmi added that during the first six months of this year, Bukit Aman WCB/PSK JKDNKA conducted 153 raids, resulting in 233 arrests for various offences, including smuggling of non-duty-paid goods, sale of imitation firearms, and wildlife trafficking, with total seizures valued at RM433,351,837.61.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Supreme Court hands down wins for Trump and Obamacare: Live updates on the rulings
WASHINGTON − The Supreme Court voted to lift temporary blocks on President Donald Trump's order ending birthright citizenship for the children of parents who were in the country temporarily or without legal authorization. The court ruled 6-3 that district court rulings temporarily blocking Trump's order "likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has granted to federal courts." It did not decide whether the order is constitutional − a question that is being argued in lower federal courts. "This was a big decision, one that we're very happy about," Trump said later on June 27. 'The Constitution has been brought back." More: Trump wins again. Conservatives like Amy Coney Barrett again. Supreme Court takeaways More: In win for Trump, Supreme Court orders courts to reconsider limits on birthright citizenship and other policies In other decisions on the last day of the court's term, the justices ruled against a challenge to an Obamacare provision that forces health insurers to cover certain medicines and services, like HIV-preventive medication and cholesterol-lowering drugs; allowed parents to remove young school children from classes where the books include gay characters; and upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users of pornographic web content. More: Supreme Court rejects conservative challenge to Obamacare health coverage Appearing alongside Trump at the White House, Attorney General Pam Bondi took aim at what she called "imperial judges" who have tried to block the Trump administration's policies. She singled out federal judges in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Washington and the District of Columbia who ordered 35 of 40 nationwide blocks against Trump's policies, and noted the high court halted that practice. 'Americans are finally getting what they voted for,' Bondi said. 'No longer will we have rogue judges striking down President Trump's policies across the entire nation.' A group fighting Trump's birthright citizenship order shifted gears to block the president's restrictions after the Supreme Court struck down nationwide holds by several district judges. CASA Inc. refiled its lawsuit over the policy as a class action case. Class actions are still subject to nationwide injuctions, the Supreme Court ruled June 27. CASA asked a federal judge in Maryland to "immediately, without awaiting furtherbriefing, enter a temporary restraining order" against enforcement of Trump's birthright restrictions, protecting 'all children who have been born or will be born in the United States on or after February 19, 2025, who are designated by ExecutiveOrder 14,160 to be ineligible for birthright citizenship...' President Donald Trump and his top aides are declaring victory over federal judges who have blocked the Republican administration's policies at unprecedented rates, after the Supreme Court said nationwide decisions from regional judges likely exceed their authority. "This was a big decision, one that we're very happy about," Trump told reporters in a previously-unscheduled White House press conference on June 27. Later, he added, 'The Constitution has been brought back." The Supreme Court earlier in the day ordered U.S. district court judges to review their orders temporarily blocking Trump policies, in a case about the second-term president's executive order limiting birthright citizenship for children whose parents were in the country temporarily or without legal authorization. More: Live: Trump calls news conference after Supreme Court win on judges blocking his policies Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has been targeted by some MAGA activists for siding against President Trump, but he had nothing but praises for her after a key decision. Barrett wrote the majority opinion in a 6-3 decision limiting the use of nationwide injunctions by federal courts, something the Trump administration has railed against. 'I have great respect for her, I always have, and her decision was brilliantly written today,' Trump said June 27 during a press conference celebrating the ruling. Barrett earlier had ruled against the Trump administration's efforts to freeze foreign aid funding, drawing criticism from the right. -Zac Anderson The Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring pornographic websites to verify their users are at least 18. The case pitted concerns about protecting minors against worries about violating the First Amendment rights of adults. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the 6-3 majority that the law survived 'because it only incidentally burdens the protected speech of adults.' Eighteen other, largely conservative states have enacted similar laws in recent years as access to a growing cache of online pornography has exploded and the material has become more graphic. -Maureen Groppe and Bart Jansen More: Supreme Court upholds Texas' age verification law for porn sites The Supreme Court sided with a group of parents who want to withdraw their elementary school children from class when storybooks with LGBTQ+ characters are being read. In a 6-3 decision that divided along ideological lines, the court said a Maryland public school district's refusal to allow opt-outs likely burdens parents' First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion. They said the school must allow opt-outs while the legal challenge continues. Justice Sonia Sotomayor disagreed with the ruling, saying children of all faiths and backgrounds deserve an education and an opportunity to practice living in our multicultural society. "That experience is critical to our Nation's civic vitality," Sotomayor said. "Yet it will become a mere memory if children must be insulated from exposure to ideas and concepts that may conflict with their parents' religious beliefs." Their decision continues a recent trend of high court rulings backing claims of religious discrimination, sometimes at the expense of other values like gay rights. -Maureen Groppe and Bart Jansen The Supreme Court on June 27 upheld an $8 billion federal program that subsidizes high-speed internet and phone service for millions of Americans, rejecting a conservative argument that the program is funded by an unconstitutional tax. The case was decided by a 6-3 majority, with Justice Elena Kagan writing the opinion. The court endorsed the way the Federal Communications Commission funds its multi-billion dollar program to expand phone and broadband internet access to low-income and rural Americans and other beneficiaries. The decision overturned a lower-court ruling that the FCC's funding mechanism employing mandatory contributions from telecommunications companies had effectively levied a "misbegotten tax" on consumers in violation of the Constitution. The case raised questions about how much Congress can 'delegate' its legislative authority to a federal agency and whether the Supreme Court should tighten that standard. -Maureen Groppe, Bart Jansen The court ruled against a challenge to an Obamacare board that determines which preventative care must be covered by insurance companies. The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration's appointment of a Department of Health and Human Services task force is constitutional. The decision upheld a key part of Obamacare that helps guarantee that health insurers cover preventive care such as cancer screenings at no cost to patients. Individuals and small businesses had challenged the structure of the task force that makes recommendations about preventive services that insurers would be required to cover at no additional cost to patients. But Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the 6-3 majority that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. can remove task force members at will and can review their recommendations before they take effect. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch disagreed. -Bart Jansen The Supreme Court decided to lift nationwide blocks on President Donald Trump's order ending birthright citizenship for the children of parents who were in the country temporarily or without legal authorization. More: Trump wants to end birthright citizenship. How many people would that impact? The court ruled 6-3 that District Court rulings that temporarily blocked Trump's order "likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has granted to federal courts." Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the majority that the lower courts should review their temporary blocks on Trump's policy. She explicitly said the court wasn't deciding whether Trump's order was constitutional. -Bart Jansen Several important Supreme Court decisions will be announced after 10 a.m. Eastern time on June 27. These will be the final rulings of court's current term. The opinions will be announced in order of the author, with the most junior justice going first. The justice who wrote the opinion will read a summary of the decision, which usually takes several minutes. If there's a dissenting opinion, that may also be summarized but is usually done only in major cases. That's happened only once so far this term. Justice Sonia Sotomayor read parts of her dissent from the majority's opinion upholding Tennessee's ban on gender affirming care for minors. -Maureen Groppe One of the most hotly anticipated Supreme Court decisions of the year deals with President Donald Trump's order ending birthright citizenship for the children parents who were in the country temporarily or without legal authorization. But how the justices will resolve case is anyone's guess. The Justice Department asked the high court to ignore for now the constitutionality of Trump's executive order. Instead, the department asked the justices to allow his order signed his first day back in office to go into effect while the case is litigated. But states and immigration advocates contend the order is clearly unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. Lower courts in three states temporarily halted Trump's order while the cases are argued. The justices could lift the pause on those lower-court rulings – or not. Or fully decide Trump's order is constitutional – or not. Or ask for more arguments for the next court session beginning in October. Or maybe something else. -Bart Jansen Retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy warned 'freedom is at risk' as he expressed concern about the "tone of our political discourse" as he defended the role judges play. More: How Trump's clash with the courts is brewing into an 'all-out war' Kennedy made his comments during an online forum June 26 called 'Speak Up for Justice,' which featured judges from other countries warning about how attacks on courts can threaten democracies. "And if they see a hostile, fractious discourse, if they see a discourse that uses identity politics rather than to talk about issues, democracy is at risk," Kennedy said. "Freedom is at risk. Kennedy, who was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan and retired during President Donald Trump's first term, stressed that the rest of the world looks 'to the United States to see what democracy is, to see what democracy ought to be." -Reuters The latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act takes aim at 2010 law's popular requirement that insurers cover without extra costs preventive care such as cancer screenings, cholesterol-lowering medication and diabetes tests. Two Christian-owned businesses and some people in Texas argue that the volunteer group of experts that recommends the services health insurance must cover is so powerful that, under the Constitution, its members must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The Supreme Court decided only three cases out of more than 60 decisions along strict ideological lines during the current year-long term ending June 27. The three cases so far decided on votes of the six justices appointed by Republicans and opposed by three justices appointed by Democrats were: A decision June 18 upholding Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. A ruling June 26 siding with South Carolina's effort to deprive Planned Parenthood of public funding, A case about unsolicited faxes. -Bart Jansen The Supreme Court has nine justices: John G. Roberts Clarence Thomas Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor Elena Kagan Neil Gorsuch Brett Kavanaugh Amy Coney Barrett Ketanji Brown Jackson Six of the nine justices were appointed by Republican presidents and three by Democrats. But their rulings often do not split along strictly ideological lines, other than in political cases or those involving thorny cultural issues. -Bart Jansen and Anna Kaufman The Supreme Court still has to decide the last of three cases brought this year by religious groups. The justices will say if parents should be allowed to remove their elementary school children from class when storybooks with LGBTQ+ characters are being read. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court decisions recap: Latest on big wins for Trump, Obamacare
