Latest news with #Sept11
New York Times
2 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Fourth Military Judge in Sept. 11 Case Retires
The fourth judge in the long-running Sept. 11 case at Guantánamo Bay has retired and the chief judge for the military commissions assigned himself on Monday to oversee is unclear whether Col. Matthew S. Fitzgerald, the chief judge, will hold hearings in the death-penalty case or just manage it on an interim basis, as other chief judges have done. The next session is scheduled to start on July 14. A notice on Monday said that Colonel Fitzgerald was replacing Col. Matthew N. McCall, who had served in that role from the summer of 2021 until his recent retirement. Colonel Fitzgerald is also presiding in the destroyer Cole bombing case, Guantánamo's other capital prosecution. Both Colonel McCall and Colonel Fitzgerald were in law school at the time of the Sept. 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. Five men are charged in the case. They were detained between 2002 and 2003 but were held in secret C.I.A. prisons until their transfer to Guantánamo in 2006, one reason for the long delays in getting the case to trial. In his time on the case, Colonel McCall presided over fact-finding hearings on torture and the handling of secret evidence, and made consequential rulings that splintered the case into three separate tracks. He severed the case of one defendant, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, in September 2023 after a military mental health panel found him not mentally competent to stand trial. In April, Colonel McCall threw out the self-incriminating statements of another defendant, Ammar al-Baluchi, as tainted by torture and inadmissible at his trial, depriving prosecutors of key evidence. Colonel McCall also validated as lawful the guilty plea agreements of the other three defendants, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi. The military court of appeals upheld his finding last year, and prosecutors are seeking to overturn the guilty pleas in federal issue is whether former Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III acted too late and beyond the scope of his authority when he rescinded the three deals in the summer of 2024, two days after a senior Pentagon appointee had signed McCall postponed his retirement twice to help the case reach trial. Two of the three other judges also retired from the service while serving as judge in the case. Another left the bench to take up a command position in the Marine Corps. Other military judges have been named to the case, but they were mostly previous chief judges who assigned themselves as a caretaker until the next judge arrived.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Global economy withstands Trump's tariff storm for now
For all the drama surrounding US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, the world economy is holding up better than many had expected. The latest data from the United States, China and, to a lesser extent, Europe are showing resilience and the global economy as a whole is still expected to grow modestly this year. This is in part due to US buyers and foreign sellers bringing forward business, while many of the import duties unveiled by Trump remain suspended. While that effect may prove short-lived, Trump's decision to pause tariffs and some glimpses of progress in trade talks, particularly between the United States and the European Union, have fuelled cautious optimism. "We are seeing a bit of a sugar rush in industry, with manufacturers bringing forward production and trade," said Holger Schmieding, an economist at investment bank Berenberg. "The other thing is that we have evidence that Trump pedalled back on tariffs. The bet in markets and, to some extent, in the economy is that he barks but doesn't bite." Investment banks and institutions generally expect the US to avoid a recession this year and the global economy to keep growing. The International Monetary Fund downgraded its global GDP growth forecast by just 0.5 percentage points last month to 2.8 per cent. This is roughly in line with the trend over the past decade and a far cry from the downturns experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2008 financial crisis or even the turmoil that followed the Sept 11 terror attacks in 2001. No one is venturing a prediction on where the trade negotiations will eventually settle, particularly with a US president who sees himself as unstoppable. Last week alone, separate US courts first blocked and then reinstated Trump's tariffs — creating a degree of legal uncertainty that will do little to facilitate trade deals between the US and those threatened with the levies. While the EU celebrated "new impetus" in its trade talks with the US, negotiations with China were "a bit stalled" according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Companies are counting the cost of the ongoing impasse. A Reuters analysis of corporate disclosures shows Trump's trade war had cost companies more than US$34 billion in lost sales and higher costs, a toll that is expected to rise as ongoing uncertainty over tariffs paralyses decision-making at some of the world's largest companies. Carmakers from Japan's Toyota to Germany's Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are bracing for lower, or lower-than-previously-expected profits if they have not given up making predictions altogether, like Volvo Cars and Dutch-based Stellantis. This is likely to result in a hit, especially for Japan. The US is Japan's biggest export destination, accounting for 21 trillion yen worth of goods, with automobiles representing roughly 28 per cent of the total. "While the worst shocks may be over, there's still a lot up in the air," Xingchen Yu, a strategist at UBS's Chief Investment Office, said. "We don't really know what a new normal for tariffs would look like, unfortunately." But so far the global economy has held up pretty well. China's output and exports are resilient as its companies re-route trade to the US via third countries. Even in Europe, manufacturing activity was at a 33-month high in May, rebounding from a slump induced by more expensive fuel following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Confidence was also buttressed by the prospect of greater fiscal spending in Germany, a missing ingredient for European growth for the past couple of decades. The robustness of the world economy has surprised even professional forecasters. A measure produced by US bank Citi that tracks the degree to which global economic data has surprised to the upside is now at its highest in more than a year. Economists though still fear a triple whammy in which the front-loaded boost to the goods sector is unwound, while US household purchasing power is squeezed by higher prices and companies put off investment and hiring. At the margin, however, this scenario is starting to appear a little less likely after Trump's pause on tariffs. "The balance has slightly shifted towards more optimism, albeit with uncertainty and volatility," ING's global head of macro Carsten Brzeski said.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump administration puts new limits on reporters at Pentagon
The Pentagon Press Association said the new rules appeared to be a 'direct attack on the freedom of the press'. PHOTO: REUTERS WASHINGTON - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on May 23 issued orders that require journalists to have official escorts within much of the Pentagon building, the latest in a series of Trump administration restrictions placed on the press. The measures, which take effect immediately, bar credentialed reporters from most of the Department of Defense headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, unless they have an official approval and escort. 'While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect CSNI (classified intelligence) and sensitive information - the unauthorised disclosure of which could put the lives of US Service members in danger,' Mr Hegseth said in a memorandum. He called the protection of classified national intelligence information and operational security 'an unwavering imperative for the Department'. The Pentagon Press Association, a membership organisation representing the interests of the press corps covering the US military, said the new rules appeared to be a 'direct attack on the freedom of the press'. 'The decision is purportedly based on concerns about operational security. But the Pentagon Press Corps has had access to non-secured, unclassified spaces in the Pentagon for decades, under Republican and Democratic administrations, including in the aftermath of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, without any concern about OP-SEC from DoD leadership,' the statement said. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the press association's statement. Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, the Pentagon has launched an investigation into leaks that resulted in three officials being placed on administrative leave. It has also required legacy media organisations, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN and NBC News, to vacate their Pentagon office spaces in a new rotation system that brought in others, including outlets generally friendly to the Trump administration such as the New York Post, Breitbart, the Daily Caller and One America News Network. The Trump administration says the move is intended to allow other media outlets the opportunity to report as resident members of the press corps. More broadly, the Trump administration has deployed lie detector tests to investigate unclassified leaks, with some Department of Homeland Security officials being told they could be fired for refusing polygraphs, Reuters reported on May 23. The White House says Mr Trump will not tolerate leaks to the media and that federal employees who do so should be held accountable. Mr Hegseth's May 23 order also requires members of the Pentagon press corps to acknowledge a responsibility to protect national intelligence and sensitive information, and says they will be issued with new credentials that more prominently identify them as members of the press. 'We also anticipate a forthcoming announcement of additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny on the issuance of (credentials),' the memo said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Japan to launch pre-screening of visa-free travellers in FY 2028
A record 36.87 million foreign travellers visited Japan in 2024, up 47.1 per cent from the previous year. PHOTO: AFP TOKYO - Japan will launch pre-arrival screening of visa-free travellers in fiscal 2028, as the government aims to boost its booming inbound tourism further, according to the Justice Ministry. The government is looking to raise the efficiency of the process by introducing screening modelled on the United States' Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, the ministry said in April. A record 36.87 million foreign travellers visited Japan in 2024, up 47.1 per cent from the previous year, and as tourism is a main pillar in Japan's growth strategy, the government aims to lift the number to 60 million in 2030. Under the new system, travellers from countries with visa exemptions for short-term stays in Japan will be required to provide travel and personal information, such as their names, purposes of stay and locations, at least several days before arrival. The Immigration Services Agency of Japan will be able to examine the travellers' data in advance, and if they have any criminal history or record of illegal stays in Japan, the agency may not allow them to board planes to Japan, the ministry said. According to the Foreign Ministry, nationals of 71 countries and regions, including the US and South Korea, are exempted from obtaining visas for short-term stays. The US established the Esta system in 2001 following the terrorist attacks of Sept 11 that year. A number of other countries, including Canada, have since introduced similar systems. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Singapore GE2025: Unwavering, steady messaging pays off for PM Wong and PAP
SINGAPORE: Historically, the PAP's national vote share dips after a new prime minister takes office, but Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reversed the trend by securing a clear – and unexpected – mandate of 65.57 per cent on Saturday (May 3). When Lee Hsien Loong led the PAP into battle for the first time in 2006, the party's vote share slipped nearly 9 percentage points, even if it was from the anomalous result of the 2001 polls, called weeks after the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks in America. The PAP vote share also fell in 1991, which was Goh Chok Tong's first general election as prime minister. In contrast, in 2025, PM Wong improved on the ruling party's 2020 vote share of 61.23 per cent. What explains the electorate's huge swing in the PAP's favour this year? Part of the answer lies in the PAP's characterisation of what was at stake. Throughout the nine-day campaign, PM Wong remained unwavering in his appeal: Vote for us to give Singapore its best shot at navigating a turbulent world. His steady, consistent messaging set the tone. Rather than being forced to debunk opposition narratives – as it had in 2020 with the WP's successful call for 'no blank cheque' – the PAP seized the initiative from the beginning and never let go. During the hustings, the WP repeatedly questioned Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong's value to the PAP's leadership team. But the ruling party's performance in Punggol GRC, where Gan won with 55.17 per cent of the vote, shows that these attempts to undermine the PAP's narrative did not quite stick. Even so, the PAP's message would have resonated with the discerning Singaporean electorate only if voters believed the ruling party could deliver on its promises in a crisis. Some voters may have had on their minds the PAP's track record during the Covid-19 pandemic when they went to the ballot box. During the election campaign, opposition parties hit out at what they framed as the PAP's biggest missteps in the past term of government. The goods and services tax hike, which the opposition said contributed to higher living costs, and public housing affordability, were among them. These concerns resonated with many Singaporeans, but in acknowledging these issues and taking steps to fix them, the PAP could have blunted the edge of voter dissatisfaction and shown that it is not impervious to constructive feedback. Significant policy moves made in the past five years include a new classification system for Build-To-Order flats aimed at keeping public housing affordable and the system fair for all. More help is on the way for young parents, with the total amount of government-paid parental leave going up to 30 weeks by April 1, 2026. PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, rolled out extensive Budget measures in recent years to soften the bite of higher prices. And the ruling party has indicated its willingness to break new ground, for instance, in studying the possibility of using nuclear power as an energy source. There remain questions to be answered on many issues but the PAP's responsiveness and moves to give ordinary citizens an avenue to give input on policy priorities appears to have paid off at the polls. The essence of the fourth-generation leadership's approach is captured by its 2023 Forward Singapore report – a blueprint for the next phase of Singapore's growth drawn up after consultations with more than 200,000 citizens. The exercise showed how the PAP government was making more of an effort to move away from its traditional top-down approach – often criticised for being inflexible and out of step with concerns on the ground. Another point that may have counted in the PAP's favour is that it ran a relatively clean campaign. Two incidents that emerged in the past term of government – the conviction of WP chief Pritam Singh for lying to a parliamentary committee, as well as an extramarital affair between two former WP members – received a thorough airing at the time. Pundits speculated that both incidents could hurt the WP at the polls. But the PAP raised neither issue and stayed its hand from launching a smear campaign. Instead, it hit the opposition on policy matters and stuck to its core message of building a strong team for a good government. Even so, the razor-thin margin in Jalan Kayu suggests that voters were sending the ruling party a message: It is not just about the party symbol – who you field matters. In Jalan Kayu, labour chief Ng Chee Meng, 56, fought his third electoral battle – his first time contesting a single seat – and went up against WP candidate Andre Low, a 33-year-old political rookie. Yet, it was not the gap in age or experience that dominated the battle for Jalan Kayu. Instead, the aborted sale of NTUC's Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz in 2024 took centre stage. During the campaign, the WP raised questions about how Ng and the PAP government handled the deal. In its view, the Income-Allianz deal – which ultimately fell through – hinted at a more fundamental problem: tripartism in Singapore and the symbiotic relationship between the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and PAP. Ng took the view that NTUC first believed the deal to be reasonable, given the need to strengthen Income against falling market share, but added that it has humbly acknowledged the public feedback, and will 'learn the right lessons' from the incident. The close fight in Jalan Kayu shows that voters were not entirely satisfied with the answers offered, and placed a premium on accountability. For the PAP to successfully beat back a renewed challenge from the opposition – which is sure to come in the next general election – it will be imperative that it tackles such issues better. - The Straits Times/ANN
