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Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump thinks China will sentence fentanyl traffickers to death
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The drug trade has joined a range of economic and security issues as a major flashpoint in the relationship between the countries in recent years. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on July 16 that he thinks China will soon sentence people to death for fentanyl manufacturing and distribution, as he offered fresh optimism about the prospects of a deal with Beijing on illicit drugs. The drug trade has joined a range of economic and security issues as a major flashpoint in the relationship between the countries in recent years. Washington accuses Beijing of failing to stem to curb the flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, a leading cause of US overdose deaths. Beijing has defended its drug control record and accused Washington of using fentanyl to 'blackmail' China. Mr Trump imposed 20 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports over the issue in February, and they have remained in effect despite a fragile trade truce reached by both sides in Geneva in May. 'I think we're going to work it out so that China is going to end up going from that to giving the death penalty to the people that create this fentanyl and send it into our country,' he said. 'I believe that's going to happen soon.' The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr Trump spoke before he signed the HALT Fentanyl Act, a law increases prison terms for drug offences involving fentanyl-related substances. The event was attended by family members of people who had died from fentanyl overdoses. 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 Business Market versus mission: What will Income Insurance choose? Opinion AI and education: We need to know where this sudden marriage is heading Singapore Coffee Meets Bagel's Singpass check: Why I'll swipe right on that 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 More than 450,000 Americans have died of synthetic opioid overdoses over the past decade, with millions more addicted. Mr Trump has been working to lower tensions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping ahead of a potential in-person meeting later in 2025. 'I think China's been helping out,' he told reporters earlier on July 16. 'Since I came here we're talking to them and they're making big steps... They want to do something. We'll see what happens.' China has baulked at some of Washington's demands, which include publicising the crackdown on fentanyl precursors on the front page of the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily and tightening regulation of specific chemicals. But Beijing has also taken a series of actions on counter-narcotics in recent weeks. These included adding two more fentanyl precursors, 4-piperidone and 1-boc-4-piperidone, to a list of controlled chemicals starting on July 13. In June, Chinese state media that immigration officials have seized more than 2 tons of drugs and arrested 262 suspects for drug smuggling so far in 2025. Chinese officials also said they had prosecuted more than 1,300 people and arrested over 700 more nationwide for drug-related money laundering offences between January and May 2025, a 2.1 per cent year-on-year increase. A court in the southeastern province of Fujian in June handed a suspended death sentence to former drug control official Liu Yuejin for bribery, state media reported. REUTERS
Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Italy may release up 10,000 people from prison to ease overcrowding
Find out what's new on ST website and app. ROME - Italy may release up to around 10,000 people from prison, or about 15% of the total population of inmates, to ease overcrowding, the Justice Ministry has announced. Some 10,105 prisoners are "potentially eligible" for alternative measures to prison, such as house arrest or probation, the ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. The option would apply to people whose convictions are final and no longer subject to appeal, less than 2 years of sentences left to serve, and no serious disciplinary offences in the past 12 months. People serving time for serious crimes such as terrorism, organized crime, rape, migrant trafficking and kidnapping would be excluded, the ministry added. According to the World Prison Brief database, Italy has one of Europe's worst prison overcrowding records, with an occupancy level of around 122%. Any level above 100% indicates that prisons are occupied above their maximum capacity. Only Cyprus, France and Turkey have higher scores in Europe, according to the database. The plight of prisoners has attracted attention in Italy following a rise in suicides and complaints about soaring summer temperatures in detention facilities that are not air- conditioned. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore Strong argument for cockpit video recording, says Iata chief in wake of Air India crash report Asia Former deputy minister seen as surprise front runner for Malaysia's next Chief Justice: Sources Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict Singapore Qantas flight from Singapore to Sydney delayed for days due to mechanical issues Business Tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter Kuok Hui Kwong appointed CEO of Shangri-La Asia Singapore Acute psychiatry services to be expanded across all healthcare clusters: MOH Singapore New network links Home Team psychologists, mental health bodies to boost emergency response However, the early release of prisoners is a politically sensitive move, and the Justice Ministry indicated that it would not happen overnight. It said it had set up a taskforce to liaise with prisons and parole judges to facilitate decisions on individual cases, which will meet weekly and report on its work by September. REUTERS
Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Taxi driver 'adding shift' to be a YouTuber
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Vlogger and taxi driver Edward Jui (LazyCabbie) in his taxi. Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport. Contrary to the name of his YouTube channel, Mr Eddie Jui is anything but lazy. The 48-year-old drives 10 hours daily and spends nearly as much time making videos. Like the friendly cabbie making conversation with his passenger, Mr Jui's videos are candid and honest. And based on how fast the LazyCabbie YouTube channel is growing, it is resonating with people. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 Spending at least two to three hours just to get the right angles for the videos. 14:20 Trying to create an online community that is more forward-looking and positive. 18:00 Taxi driving as a sunset industry but one that pays the bills, if you need money urgently. 20:10 Reacting to the rise of autonomous driving potentially taking away taxi driving as a vocation. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore Strong argument for cockpit video recording, says Iata chief in wake of Air India crash report Asia Former deputy minister seen as surprise front runner for Malaysia's next Chief Justice: Sources Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict Singapore Qantas flight from Singapore to Sydney delayed for days due to mechanical issues Business Tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter Kuok Hui Kwong appointed CEO of Shangri-La Asia Singapore Acute psychiatry services to be expanded across all healthcare clusters: MOH Singapore New network links Home Team psychologists, mental health bodies to boost emergency response 23:00 Do not treat driving as a career because there is no progression. Zero progression. Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: Read more COE articles: Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ( niantjoel@ ) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow Wheel Insights Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Feedback to: podcast@ --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: Get more updates: The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store:
