Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan expresses concern at changing global trading system
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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
US House panel subpoenas Clintons in Epstein probe
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Ex-US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary arrive at the White House for a state dinner on May 23, 2024. WASHINGTON - US lawmakers on Aug 5 subpoenaed former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton for testimony on Jeffrey Epstein, in a major escalation of the controversy surrounding the investigation into the notorious sex offender. The Clintons were among multiple former Democratic and Republican government officials – as well as the Justice Department – targeted by investigators reviewing the handling of the disgraced financier's case after he died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. The White House has been facing increasingly intense demands to be more transparent after the Justice Department angered Trump supporters – many of whom believe Epstein was murdered in a cover-up – when it confirmed in July that he had died by suicide in his prison cell and that his case was effectively closed. The department also said Epstein had no secret 'client list' – rebuffing conspiracy theories held by Mr Trump's far-right supporters about supposedly high-level Democratic complicity. Mr Trump has urged his supporters to drop demands for the Epstein files, but Democrats in the Republican-led Congress – with some support from majority lawmakers – have also been seeking a floor vote to force their release. 'By your own admission, you flew on Jeffrey Epstein's private plane four separate times in 2002 and 2003,' House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer wrote to former president Clinton. 'During one of these trips, you were even pictured receiving a 'massage' from one of Mr Epstein's victims.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore More train rides taken in first half-year, but overall public transport use stays below 2019 levels Singapore BlueSG needs time to develop software, refresh fleet, say ex-insiders after winding-down news Asia Cambodia-Thailand border clash a setback for Asean: Vivian Balakrishnan Singapore 'She had a whole life ahead of her': Boyfriend mourns Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Doctor hounded ex-girlfriend, threatened to share her intimate photos, abducted her off street Asia Trump's transactional foreign policy fuels 'US scepticism' in Taiwan Business Women on corporate boards give firms a competitive advantage, says Australian Governor-General Singapore CEO of sports car distributor accused of offences including multiple counts of false trading The White House has been seeking to redirect public attention from uproar over its handling of the affair with a series of headline-grabbing announcements including baseless claims that former president Barack Obama headed a 'treasonous conspiracy' against Mr Trump. Epstein was for years a friend and associate of Mr Trump and numerous high-profile people before he was convicted of sex crimes and then imprisoned pending trial for allegedly trafficking underage girls. His death supercharged a conspiracy theory long promoted by Trump supporters that Epstein had run an international pedophile ring and that elites wanted to make sure he never revealed their secrets. After Mr Trump returned to power in January, his administration promised to release Epstein case files. Past relationship When Attorney-General Pam Bondi announced on July 7 that she had nothing to release, Republicans were furious – and Mr Trump has attempted to control the scandal ever since. The case got even more complicated for the president after a Wall Street Journal report that he had written a lewd birthday letter to Epstein in 2003. Mr Trump denies this and has sued the Journal. The Journal then dropped a separate story, saying Bondi had informed Mr Trump in May that his name appeared several times in the Epstein files, even if there was no indication of wrongdoing. Other officials targeted by the Oversight Committee include former FBI director James Comey, former special counsel Robert Mueller and ex-attorney-generals Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, Bill Barr, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales. Their depositions will take place between mid-August and mid-October. Mr Comer also issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for records related to Epstein – including its communications with Mr Trump's predecessor Joe Biden and his officials. Lawmakers have also been seeking testimony from Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison for her role in his alleged crimes – although her cooperation is considered unlikely. The latest move from Mr Comer comes after Democrats on the oversight panel forced a vote to issue a subpoena just before the August recess, with three House Republicans backing the effort. 'Justice must apply to everyone, no matter how rich, powerful, or well-connected they are,' said Ms Summer Lee, the Democratic congresswoman who introduced the motion. AFP
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Bangladesh to hold elections in February 2026: Yunus
DHAKA: Bangladesh will hold elections in February 2026, interim leader Muhammad Yunus said on Tuesday (Aug 5), marking the first polls since a mass uprising overthrew the government last year. "On behalf of the interim government, I will write a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting that the election be arranged before Ramadan in February 2026," Yunus said in a broadcast marking the one-year anniversary of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ousting. The 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is leading the caretaker administration as chief adviser until elections are held and has pledged to step down after the vote. "We will step into the final and most important phase after delivering this speech to you, and that is the transfer of power to an elected government," he said. Yunus had previously indicated elections would take place in April, but key political parties have demanded an earlier timeline, insisting the vote be held before the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the Muslim-majority country of 170 million. "I urge you all to pray for us so that we can hold a fair and smooth election, enabling all citizens to move forward successfully in building a 'New Bangladesh'," Yunus added.
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Would you like to see fully liberalised cross-border point-to-point transport?
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said there are no plans to fully liberalise cross-border point-to-point transport via ride-hail services. But LTA noted that it's considering the use of ride-hailing apps to book cross-border trips on licensed taxis and increasing the number of boarding and alighting points in Singapore and Malaysia. Lance Alexander speaks with transport analyst Terence Fan, Assistant Professor in Strategy and Entrepreneurship, SMU.
