How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world
China's government has consistently denied that they have sponsored such attacks.
- In October 2024, US authorities said that a China-linked cyber group called Salt Typhoon was targeting critical American infrastructure,
including major telecommunications operators.
The aim was to obtain private communications of US President Donald Trump and his then running mate JD Vance, as well as communications made by staffers of Ms Kamala Harris's presidential campaign in 2024.
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CNA
20 minutes ago
- CNA
Asia shares, yen weather Japan uncertainty as earnings loom
SYDNEY :Asian shares and the yen held their ground on Monday as Japanese elections proved bad for the government but no worse than already priced in, while Wall Street futures braced for earnings from the first of the tech giants. Investors were also hoping for some progress in trade talks ahead of President Donald Trump's August 1 tariff deadline, with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick still confident a deal could be reached with the European Union. There were reports Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping were closer to arranging a meeting, though likely not until October at the earliest. In Japan, the ruling coalition lost control of the upper house in an election on Sunday, further weakening Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power as a tariff deadline looms. Ishiba expressed his intention to stay in the position, which along with a market holiday, limited the reaction and the yen was 0.4 per cent firmer at 148.29 to the dollar. "Ishiba will try to govern with support from some within the opposition, but this likely means a looser fiscal policy and is not good news for bond yields," said Rodrigo Catril, a senior FX strategist at NAB. "History also suggests that domestic political uncertainty tends to keep the BOJ on the side-lines, so the prospect of rate hikes is now set to be delayed for a little bit longer." The Bank of Japan still has a bias to raise rates further but markets are pricing little chance of a move until the end of October. While the Nikkei was shut, futures traded up at 39,875 and just above the cash close of 39,819. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was flat, while South Korean stocks added 0.4 per cent. MEGA CAPS KICK OFF S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures both edged up 0.1 per cent, and are already at record highs in anticipation of more solid earnings reports. A host of companies reporting this week include Alphabet and Tesla, along with IBM. Investors also expect upbeat news for defence groups RTX, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. Ramped up government spending across the globe has seen the S&P 500 aerospace and defence sector rise 30 per cent this year. In bond markets, U.S. Treasury futures held steady having dipped late last week after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller repeated his call for a rate cut this month. Most of his colleagues, including Chair Jerome Powell, have argued a pause is warranted to judge the true inflationary impact of tariffs and markets imply almost no chance of a move in July. A September cut is put at 61 per cent, rising to 80 per cent for October. Powell's reticence on rates has drawn the ire of Trump who threatened to fire the Fed chief, before backing down. The spectre of a potential political appointee who would seek to ease policy sharply has investors on edge. The European Central Bank meets this week and is expected to hold its rates steady at 2.0 per cent following a string of cuts. "The press conference will likely keep highlighting uncertainty and need to wait for tariff negotiations to conclude before deciding the next step," said analysts at TD Securities in a note. "Similarly, its 'meeting-by-meeting' language would be retained in the release." The euro was unchanged at $1.1630 in early trading, having dipped 0.5 per cent last week and away from its recent near-four-year top of $1.1830. The dollar index was a fraction lower at 98.40. In commodity markets, gold was little changed at $3,348 an ounce with all the recent action in platinum which last week hit its highest since August 2014. Oil prices were caught between the prospect of increased supply from OPEC+ and the risk European Union sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine could curb its exports. Brent edged up 0.1 per cent to $69.36 a barrel, while U.S. crude added 0.1 per cent to $67.39 per barrel.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Another top aide to US defence chief Hegseth leaves the Pentagon
Find out what's new on ST website and app. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (right) speaking to reporters while meeting Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz at the Pentagon on July 18. WASHINGTON – A top adviser to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has left his position, the Pentagon announced late on July 19, becoming the latest in a string of senior officials to leave the department's top ranks. The official, Mr Justin Fulcher, joined the Trump administration as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Mr Elon Musk's government overhaul initiative, and later became an adviser to Mr Hegseth. In a statement, Mr Fulcher said he had planned to work for the federal government for only six months. Earlier this month, The Washington Post detailed a confrontation between Mr Fulcher and other DOGE staff members assigned to the Pentagon. But officials downplayed that incident as a cause, insisting Mr Fulcher's exit was friendly. Mr Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement that 'the Department of Defence is grateful to Justin Fulcher for his work on behalf of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth'. Under Mr Hegseth, the office of the Secretary of Defence, the core group of advisers who help manage the Pentagon's sprawling bureaucracy, has undergone an unusual amount of turnover. In April, Mr Dan Caldwell and Mr Darin Selnick, aides to Mr Hegseth, were placed on leave from the Pentagon amid a leak investigation . Mr Colin Carroll, the chief of staff to Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen A. Feinberg, was also removed from the Pentagon. After those actions, Mr Joe Kasper, Mr Hegseth's first chief of staff, was moved to a different position. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Witness stand not arena for humiliation in sex offence cases, judge reminds lawyers Asia Japan PM's future in doubt after election debacle Business Bigger, quieter, greener: High-volume low-speed fans see rising demand in warming Singapore Singapore New home owners in Singapore find kampung spirit on BTO Telegram groups Singapore What would it take for S'pore to shed the dirty image of its blue recycling bins? Business DBS hits record high above $47; CDL up after director Philip Yeo announces resignation World Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills 93 aid seekers Mr John Ullyot, a veteran spokesperson, also left his position at the Pentagon in April, citing disarray and a sense of incompetence. The purges among Mr Hegseth's major aides fed a sense of chaos, with appointees accusing one another of disloyalty and tense shouting matches breaking out inside the building. Mr Fulcher tried to distance his departure from any sense of disorganisation or dysfunction inside Mr Hegseth's office. 'Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Department of Defence has been incredibly inspiring,' he said in his statement. 'Revitalising the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military, and re-establishing deterrence are just some of the historic accomplishments I'm proud to have witnessed.' NYTIMES
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump threatens Washington stadium deal unless NFL team re-adopt Redskins name
A view of the defunct Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, DC, on April 28. The Washington Commanders NFL team and the city announced an agreement to build a new stadium at the site where the team formerly played from 1961 to 1996. The team currently play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. US President Donald Trump on July 20 threatened to interfere with a deal to build a new football stadium in Washington, DC, unless the local National Football League team, now known as the Commanders, changes their name back to Redskins. The American football team dropped the name Redskins in 2020 after decades of criticism that it was a racial slur with links to the US genocide of the indigenous population. Mr Trump had called for a return to the name Redskins - and for the Cleveland Guardians baseball team to once again adopt the name Indians - on other occasions, but on July 20, he added that he may take official action. 'I may put a restriction on them that if they don't change the name back to the original 'Washington Redskins,' and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, 'Washington Commanders,' I won't make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington,' he said in a post on his Truth Social platform. The team moved from Washington to suburban Landover, Maryland, in 1997, but earlier this year reached an agreement with the local District of Columbia (DC) government to return to the city with a new stadium expected to open in 2030. Mr Trump has limited authority to intervene under the current home-rule law governing federal oversight of the District of Columbia, but he has raised the prospect of taking more control, telling reporters in February, 'I think we should take over Washington, DC'. Representatives of the Commanders did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Witness stand not arena for humiliation in sex offence cases, judge reminds lawyers Asia Japan PM's future in doubt after election debacle Business Bigger, quieter, greener: High-volume low-speed fans see rising demand in warming Singapore Singapore New home owners in Singapore find kampung spirit on BTO Telegram groups Singapore What would it take for S'pore to shed the dirty image of its blue recycling bins? Business DBS hits record high above $47; CDL up after director Philip Yeo announces resignation World Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills 93 aid seekers Some fans have advocated readopting the name Redskins out of tradition, but leading indigenous rights organisations have opposed the name, including the National Congress of American Indians, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and Cultural Survival. At least one group, the Native American Guardian's Association, has supported the name Redskins and the 'respectful use of Native American names and imagery in sports, education and public life'. REUTERS
