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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump releases Martin Luther King assassination files
FILE PHOTO: People walk by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, ahead of the presidential inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in Washington, U.S., January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo WASHINGTON - The U.S. Justice Department on Monday released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., including records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner and his civil rights movement. Files were posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released. King died of an assassin's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam war demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump's administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former President John F. Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King. The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to "do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief," and condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US President Trump 'caught off guard' by Israel's strikes in Syria Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections Opinion Singapore's vaping crisis lays bare the drug addiction nightmare for parents Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Multimedia 'It's very sad': She comforts loved ones turned away by inmates Opinion Sumiko at 61: 7 facts about facial skin ageing, and skincare ingredients that actually work Opinion With Shatec cutting back operations, what's next for the hospitality sector? Life Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies by drowning at 54 "Now more than ever, we must honor his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realization of his dream – a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality," they said in a statement. "During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation," the family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding "that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme. The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr. Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs." Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious. REUTERS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Auto giant Stellantis warns of greater tariff impact after $3.4 billion first-half loss
Maker of Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat, said Trump tariffs had cost it 300 million euros (S$449 million) so far. MILAN - Stellantis expects more impact from US tariffs on vehicles and auto part imports in the second half of 2025, the company said on July 21 as it reported a preliminary 2.3 billion euro (S$3.4 billion) net loss for the first six months of the year. The maker of Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat said US President Donald Trump's tariffs had cost it 300 million euros ((S$449 million) so far as the company reduced vehicle shipments and cut some production to adjust manufacturing levels. But chief financial officer Doug Ostermann told analysts that the 300 million euro impact was not representative of what the group expects for the second half, as tariffs only came into effect part way through the first half. 'We'll see significantly more in the second half unless things change ... given the current outlook, I would expect to see that figure probably double in the second half or more,' he said, adding that Stellantis was seeing a total full-year impact of between 1 and 1.5 billion euros. Stellantis, which under new chief executive Antonio Filosa faces the challenge of revamping its product ranges in Europe and the United States, said it also booked 3.3 billion euros in pre-tax charges for the first half. These were due to programme cancellations, including a hydrogen fuel cell project and money set aside for fines linked to US pre-Trump carbon emission regulation. It was also investing more in popular hybrid cars in Europe and large gasoline-powered models in the US market. In 2024, more than 40 per cent of the 1.2 million vehicles Stellantis sold in the United States were imports, mostly from Mexico and Canada where Mr Trump has imposed tariffs of 25 per cent. Imports from the European Union face levies of 30 per cent, though these have been deferred to Aug 1. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US President Trump 'caught off guard' by Israel's strikes in Syria Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections Opinion Singapore's vaping crisis lays bare the drug addiction nightmare for parents Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Multimedia 'It's very sad': She comforts loved ones turned away by inmates Opinion Sumiko at 61: 7 facts about facial skin ageing, and skincare ingredients that actually work Opinion With Shatec cutting back operations, what's next for the hospitality sector? Life Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies by drowning at 54 In April this year, the company said it had reduced vehicle imports in response to tariffs and would calibrate 'production and employment to reduce impacts on profitability'. Rival Renault last week issued a profit warning on the back of softening demand for cars and vans in Europe, Stellantis' first-half loss, versus a 5.6 billion euro net profit a year earlier, underscores the tough challenges for Mr Filosa, who was appointed in May after a disastrous performance in the company's crucial US market in 2024 forced the ousting of former boss Carlos Tavares. In a letter to employees seen by Reuters the new CEO on July 21 promised that 2025 would be 'a year of gradual and sustainable improvement' after a 'tough first half, with increasing external headwinds'. Stellantis, which will publish its final results for the first half on July 29, said it burnt through 2.3 billion euros of cash in the January-June period. REUTERS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
China-born engineer pleads guilty to stealing US trade secrets
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Gong Chenguang worked briefly in 2023 as an engineer at a Los Angeles-area research and development company, the Justice Department said. LOS ANGELES - A Chinese-born US researcher pleaded guilty on July 21 to stealing trade secrets, including technology used to detect nuclear missile launches, the Justice Department said. Gong Chenguang, 59, of San Jose, California, was accused of transferring more than 3,600 files from the research and development company where he worked to his personal storage devices. Gong pleaded guilty in a central California district court to one count of theft of trade secrets and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentencing was set for Sept 29. Gong, who became a US citizen in 2011, worked briefly in 2023 as an engineer at a Los Angeles-area research and development company, the Justice Department said. The company was not identified. Among the files Gong downloaded were blueprints for infrared sensors designed for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, the Justice Department said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US President Trump 'caught off guard' by Israel's strikes in Syria Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections Opinion Singapore's vaping crisis lays bare the drug addiction nightmare for parents Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Multimedia 'It's very sad': She comforts loved ones turned away by inmates Opinion Sumiko at 61: 7 facts about facial skin ageing, and skincare ingredients that actually work Opinion With Shatec cutting back operations, what's next for the hospitality sector? Life Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies by drowning at 54 Also stolen were blueprints for sensors designed to enable US military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and take countermeasures. The Justice Department said Gong, while employed at several major technology companies in the United States between 2014 and 2022, had submitted applications to join so-called 'Talent Programmes' funded by the Chinese government. The programmes are designed to identify individuals with 'expert skills, abilities, and knowledge of advanced sciences and technologies' that can advance the Chinese economy and military capabilities, it said. AFP
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
US not rushing trade deals ahead of August deadline, will talk with China, Bessent says
On China, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (second from left) said there would be 'talks in the very near future'. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is more concerned with the quality of trade agreements than their timing, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on July 21, ahead of an Aug 1 deadline for countries to secure trade deals or face steep tariffs. 'We're not going to rush for the sake of doing deals,' he told CNBC. Asked whether the deadline could be extended for countries engaged in productive talks with Washington, he said US President Donald Trump would decide. 'We'll see what the president wants to do. But again, if we somehow boomerang back to the Aug 1 tariff, I would think that a higher tariff level will put more pressure on those countries to come with better agreements,' he said. Mr Trump has upended the global economy with a trade war that has targeted most US trading partners, but his administration has fallen far short of its plan to clinch deals with dozens of countries. Negotiations with India, the European Union, Japan, and others have proven more trying than expected. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Mr Trump could discuss trade when he meets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr at the White House on July 22. She said the Trump administration remained engaged with countries around the world and could announce more trade deals or send more letters notifying countries of the tariff rate they faced before Aug 1, but gave no details. Her comments came as European Union (EU) diplomats said they were exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the US, given fading prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US President Trump 'caught off guard' by Israel's strikes in Syria Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections Opinion Singapore's vaping crisis lays bare the drug addiction nightmare for parents Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Multimedia 'It's very sad': She comforts loved ones turned away by inmates Opinion Sumiko at 61: 7 facts about facial skin ageing, and skincare ingredients that actually work Opinion With Shatec cutting back operations, what's next for the hospitality sector? Life Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies by drowning at 54 An increasing number of EU members, including Germany, are now considering using 'anti-coercion' measures that would let the bloc target US services or curb access to public tenders in the absence of a deal, diplomats said. 'The negotiations over the level of tariffs are currently very intense,' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told a press conference. 'The Americans are quite clearly not willing to agree to a symmetrical tariff arrangement.' US-China talks soon On China, Mr Bessent said there would be 'talks in the very near future'. 'I think trade is in a good place, and I think, now we can start talking about other things. The Chinese, unfortunately ... are very large purchasers of sanctioned Iranian oil, sanctioned Russian oil,' he said. 'We could also discuss the elephant in the room, which is this great rebalancing that the Chinese need to do.' US officials have long complained about China's overcapacity in various manufacturing sectors, including steel. Mr Bessent told CNBC he would encourage Europe to follow the United States if it implements secondary tariffs on Russia. The Treasury chief, who returned from a visit to Japan on July 20, said the administration was less concerned with the Asian country's domestic politics than with getting the best deal for Americans. Japan's chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa departed for trade talks in Washington on the morning of July 21, his eighth visit in three months, after the ruling coalition of Japanese Premier Shigeru Ishiba suffered a bruising defeat in upper house elections shaped in part by voter frustration over US tariffs. Indian trade negotiators returned to New Delhi after almost a week of talks in Washington, but officials were losing hope of signing an interim trade deal before the Aug 1 deadline, government sources said. REUTERS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
WHO says Israeli military attacked staff residence in Gaza
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The World Health Organization logo is pictured at the entrance of the WHO building, in Geneva, Switzerland, December 20, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo The World Health Organization said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Monday, compromising its operations in Gaza. The United Nations agency said the WHO staff residence was attacked three times, with airstrikes causing a fire and extensive damage, and endangering staff and their families, including children. Israeli tanks pushed into southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area where Israeli sources said the military believes hostages may be held. Tank shelling in the area hit houses and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and wounding several others, local medics said. "Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint," WHO said. Two WHO staff and two family members were detained, it said in a post on X, adding that three were later released, while one staff member remained in detention. "WHO demands the immediate release of the detained staff and protection of all its staff," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Deir al-Balah is packed with Palestinians displaced during more than 21 months of war in Gaza, hundreds of whom fled west or south after Israel issued an evacuation order, saying it sought to destroy infrastructure and capabilities of the militant group Hamas. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Opinion Singapore's vaping crisis lays bare the drug addiction nightmare for parents Singapore ST Explains: What does it mean for etomidate to be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act? Opinion With Shatec cutting back operations, what's next for the hospitality sector? Opinion Sumiko at 61: 7 facts about facial skin ageing, and skincare ingredients that actually work Life Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies by drowning at 54 World UK, France and 23 other nations condemn Israel over 'inhumane killing' of civilians WHO said its main warehouse, located within an evacuation zone, was damaged on Sunday due to an attack that triggered explosions and a fire inside. WHO stated it will remain in Deir al-Balah and expand its operations despite the attacks. Britain and more than 20 other countries called on Monday for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and criticised the Israeli government's aid delivery model after hundreds of Palestinians were killed near sites distributing food. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed over 59,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, displaced almost the entire population, and caused a humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization describes the health sector in Gaza as being "on its knees", with shortages of fuel, medical supplies and frequent mass casualty influxes. REUTERS
