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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Thailand sees US offering ‘very good' trade deal after ceasefire
Thailand's trade talks with the US have included offering expanded access for American goods to narrow a US$46 billion trade surplus. BANGKOK - Thailand expects the Trump administration to offer it a 'very good' trade deal after agreeing to end an armed border conflict with Cambodia under a US-backed peace initiative, its Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said. Mr Phumtham spoke to President Donald Trump hours after Thailand and Cambodia jointly announced an 'immediate and unconditional' ceasefire. The US president lauded Thailand for agreeing to end the five-day old conflict, Mr Phumtham told reporters late on July 28. The truce was reached after Mr Trump threatened to block trade deals with both the South-east Asian countries unless the violence stopped. Mr Phumtham and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met for talks hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as the chair of the Association of South-east Asian Nations. Mr Trump told Mr Phumtham that 'there will be tariff negotiations, which will be beneficial and we will get something very good out of it. He will do his best to give us as much as he can', the Thai leader said. On his part, Mr Trump posted on Truth Social that 'I have instructed my Trade Team to restart negotiations on Trade'. With the Aug 1 tariff deadline nearing, export-reliant Thailand appeared eager to avoid provoking the US president as it worked to reduce a planned 36 per cent levy on its exports. Mr Trump has credited his use of trade pressure with helping stop border clashes between India and Pakistan earlier this year – a claim welcomed by Pakistan but consistently denied by India. Thailand's trade talks with the US have included offering expanded access for American goods to narrow a US$46 billion (S$59 billion) trade surplus. Neighboring Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have already secured trade deals with the US in recent weeks. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row World US, China hold new talks on tariff truce, easing path for Trump-Xi meeting Asia Giant algal bloom off South Australia devastates marine life, threatens seafood exports Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole: Road recovery works progressing steadily, tests under way Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far Sport Gan Ching Hwee breaks 2 national records, qualifies for World Aquatics C'ships 1,500m final Asia Gunman kills 5 near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Mr Phumtham said though border fighting continued ahead of the midnight ceasefire, it will end very well as the international community supports the truce. The Malaysia talks didn't cover disputed maps and border checkpoint measures. The Thai-Cambodia conflict traces its roots to long-standing disputes stemming from colonial-era maps and treaties that defined the two countries' boundaries. Relations had remained relatively stable since a 2011 clash that left dozens dead, but renewed tensions have triggered fears of escalated fighting. BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
North Korea says Trump must accept new nuclear reality
SEOUL - North Korea said on July 29 the United States must accept that reality has changed since the countries' summit meetings in the past, and no future dialogue would end its nuclear programme, state media KCNA reported. Ms Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who is believed to speak for his brother, said she conceded that the personal relationship between Mr Kim and US President Donald Trump 'is not bad'. But if Washington intended to use a personal relationship as a way to end the North's nuclear weapons programme, the effort would only be the subject of 'mockery,' Ms Kim said in a statement carried by KCNA. 'If the US fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK-US meeting will remain as a 'hope' of the US side,' she said. DPRK is short for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korea's capabilities as a nuclear weapons state and the geopolitical environment have radically changed since Mr Kim and Mr Trump held talks three times during the US president's first term, she said. 'Any attempt to deny the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state ... will be thoroughly rejected,' she said. Asked about the North Korean statement, a White House official said Mr Trump was still committed to the goal he had for the three summit meetings he held with Mr Kim in his first term. 'The President retains those objectives and remains open to engaging with Leader Kim to achieve a fully denuclearised North Korea,' the White House official told Reuters. At their first meeting in Singapore in 2018, Mr Trump and Mr Kim signed an agreement in principle to make the Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons. The subsequent summit in Hanoi in 2019 broke down due to a disagreement over removing international sanctions that had been imposed against Pyongyang. Mr Trump has said he has a 'great relationship' with Mr Kim, and the White House has said the president is receptive to the idea of communicating with the reclusive North Korean leader to fully end the North's nuclear programme. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
US government probes Duke University in latest federal funding threat
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The government said that it will probe whether the Duke Law Journal's selection of its editors gives preferences to candidates from minority communities. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump's administration has initiated a probe into Duke University and the Duke Law Journal over allegations of race-related discrimination, making it the latest American university to face the threat of cuts to federal funding. The government said on July 28 that it will probe whether the Duke Law Journal's selection of its editors gives preferences to candidates from minority communities. 'This investigation is based on recent reporting alleging that Duke University discriminates on the bases of race, color, and/or national origin by using these factors to select law journal members,' the Education Department said in a statement. US Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr sent a letter to the university's leadership alleging what the government called 'the use of race preferences in Duke's hiring, admissions, and scholarship decisions'. The letter urged the university to review its policies and create a panel 'with delegated authority from Duke's Board of Trustees to enable Duke and the federal government to move quickly toward a mutual resolution of Duke's alleged civil rights violations.' Duke had no immediate comment. Rights advocates have raised free speech and academic freedom concerns over the Trump administration's attempted crackdown against universities. The government has threatened federal funding cuts against universities and schools over climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's war in Gaza and diversity, equity and inclusion programmes. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row World US, China hold new talks on tariff truce, easing path for Trump-Xi meeting Asia Giant algal bloom off South Australia devastates marine life, threatens seafood exports Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole: Road recovery works progressing steadily, tests under way Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far Sport Gan Ching Hwee breaks 2 national records, qualifies for World Aquatics C'ships 1,500m final Asia Gunman kills 5 near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on grounds of race, colour, and national origin in education programmes receiving federal funding. The government said in late April it was probing whether Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review violated civil rights laws when the journal's editors fast-tracked consideration of an article written by a member of a racial minority. Harvard is legally challenging the government to have its frozen federal funding restored. Mr Trump has claimed, without evidence, that groups like white people and men face discrimination due to DEI. Rights groups dismiss that, saying DEI addresses historic inequities against marginalised groups like ethnic minorities. REUTERS
