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IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Is the US Supreme Court a Trump Court?
Demonstrators hold a banner outside the US Supreme Court, on the final day of the Court's term, in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2025. The US Supreme Court is to issue its final rulings on Friday ahead of its summer break, including cases involving birthright citizenship, porn site age verification, students and LGBTQ-themed content, and voting rights. Image: Mandel Ngan / AFP Has the United States Supreme Court become a Trump Court with three Trump appointees: Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brent Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett? The short paradoxical answer is 'yes' and 'no'. For starters, a substantial percentage (40-50%) of Supreme Court decisions in any term are unanimous. But not all cases are equally significant. Some plow pioneering constitutional territory, for example, Trump v. United States bestowing criminal immunity on all presidential acts. Others overrule long standing precedents, for example, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overruling Roe v. Wade's recognition of a constitutional right to an abortion. Trump appointee Justice Barrett has displayed an independent streak in garden variety cases. But she is a reliable member of a 6-member majority in major constitutional or quasi-constitutional cases with Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brent Kavanaugh. The Chief Justice and Justice Alito are appointees of President George W. Bush. Justice Thomas was appointed by President George H. W. Bush. Neither Bush #41 nor Bush #43 are MAGA cheerleaders. In other words, the 6-member conservative majority represents a broader political consensus than Mr. Trump himself. Moreover, Trump's influence on the Supreme Court has been less than President Franklin D. Roosevelt's. The latter appointed eight new Justices, all New Deal enthusiasts, and elevated Associate Justice Harlan Fiske Stone to Chief Justice. The Roosevelt Court revolutionized congressional power under the Commerce Clause and presidential power over national security and foreign policy. Supreme Court Justices serve for life to encourage their independence from the Presidents who appointed them. Experience shows mixed success on that score. Justices do occasionally disappoint their benefactors. President Theordore Roosevelt appointed Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. But within a year he complained about a Holmes dissent, 'I could carve out a banana, a judge with more backbone than that. President Harry Truman appointed his Attorney General, Tom C. Clark, who voted against him in the famous Steel Seizure Case. President Dwight Eisenhower reportedly regretted his appointment of Chief Justice Earl Warren and Associate Justice William Brennan as 'my two worst mistakes.' President Richard Nixon appointed Chief Justice Warren Burger and Associate Justice Harry Blackmun. But the former authored the Nixon tapes case which led to the President's resignation and the latter pioneered a constitutional right to abortion in Roe v. Wade. Justice Anthony Kennedy proved a disappointment to President Ronald Reagan and Justice David Souter disappointed Bush #41. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Trump Court voted against President Trump's anti-immigration initiatives to end President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals in DHS v. Regents of the University of California and to reinstate a Census citizenship question in Department of Commerce v. New York. Further, the Court held in its most recent term in Noem v. Abrego Garcia (April 10, 2025) that President Trump was required to 'facilitate' the return of a wrongly deported immigrant from a dungeon in El Salvador. But these exceptions prove an important rule. Justices of the Supreme Court, by and large, do reflect the political inclinations of their presidential benefactors. Thus, the Trump Court has followed Trump's lead on freedom of religion, guns, LGBTQ people, the environment, deregulation, national security, and unchecked presidential power. In Trump v. CASA Inc. (June 27, 2025), the Court clipped the wings of subordinate tribunals to restrain unconstitutional executive orders coming out of the gate. Over the long haul, the Supreme Court never strays far from public opinion. As fabled Justice Benjamin Cardozo elaborated, 'The great tides and currents which engulf the rest of men do not turn aside in their course and pass the judges by.' * Armstrong Williams ( @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun. ** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Angkasa approves RM255m for nine high-impact cooperative projects
KUALA LUMPUR: The 39th ANGKASA delegates' general meeting (MAPA) today approved an allocation of RM255 million to implement nine high-impact business projects set to benefit both the cooperative community and the general public. Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (ANGKASA) president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah said the projects include the establishment of a cooperative-owned digital bank, food security initiatives, the development of affordable housing and the production of dairy products. 'Our goal is for cooperatives not only to remain relevant but to become major players in critical economic sectors such as food security, digital financial services and affordable housing. 'This RM255 million allocation aims to unlock greater potential and positioning cooperatives to be more competitive and sustainable,' he told reporters after the meeting, held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today. The meeting also saw elections for ANGKASA's top two leadership posts - president and deputy president. Abdul Fattah retained his position after securing majority support from delegates, while Associate Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak Shaik was elected as deputy president for the 2025-2028 term. The annual meeting brought together 4,898 cooperative delegates from across the country to deliberate on key resolutions, the strategic direction of the national cooperative movement, and action plans to strengthen the standing of Malaysian cooperatives at both domestic and international levels. - Bernama
Biz Bahrain
26-06-2025
- Science
- Biz Bahrain
AGU Researcher Explores Impact of Sustainable Leadership Practices on Sustainable Performance Through Social Innovation Capabilities in Saudi Arabia
Ms. Ghuzail Maqbool Al Buqmi, a researcher in the Department of Innovation and Technology Management at the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), conducted a study to examine the impact of sustainable leadership practices on sustainable performance through social innovation capabilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The findings confirmed that sustainable leadership acts as a key driver of organisational sustainable performance through the channel of social innovation. The study, recently discussed as part of the requirements for obtaining a Doctorate in Innovation and Technology Management, aimed to identify the influence of sustainable leadership practices on sustainable social performance via social innovation capabilities in Saudi Arabia. Ms. Al Buqmi adopted a mixed-method scientific approach, employing the SPSS software for survey analysis, for interviews, and AMOS to validate the structural model. The research sample included a total population of 5,000 individuals, with 494 respondents participating in the study. Among them, 481 responded to the survey, and 13 participated in in-depth interviews. Hypotheses were tested and results confirmed using both linear and multiple regression methods, which revealed a positive impact of sustainable leadership practices on social performance via social innovation capabilities. Further analysis highlighted a positive influence of social innovation capabilities on sustainable performance, as well as a direct positive relationship between sustainable leadership practices and engagement in social innovation. Two out of five variables—knowledge sharing and trust—were found to have a statistically significant effect. The study was supervised by Prof, Fairouz Mosleh Al Dhmour, Professor of Management Information Systems in the Department of Innovation and Technology Management, and Dr Wid Hussain Daghustani, Associate Professor of Special Education. It recommended further research into the factors shaping social innovation capabilities and urged decision-makers to prioritise the appointment of sustainable leaders to stimulate innovation within their organisations.
Cision Canada
25-06-2025
- Science
- Cision Canada
Liquid Instruments Announces Industry-First Generative Instrumentation, Bringing Agentic AI to Test and Measurement
This represents a significant leap beyond traditional instrument design, vastly improving users' productivity and ability to customize and optimize their test setup. Agentic AI opens up the capability to adapt to specialized applications, automate complex test scenarios, and respond to dynamically changing requirements. "We see a future where engineers and scientists describe what they want, and the instrument configures itself," said Dr. Rory Smith, Lead AI Instrumentation Engineer at Liquid Instruments. "Generative Instrumentation won't just simplify everyday tasks — it will enable the creation of entirely new capabilities on demand, unlocking test setups that were previously impossible or impractical." This new capability, supported in an upcoming release of MokuOS, is enabled by the launch of Moku:Delta, the fourth generation hardware platform from Liquid Instruments. Moku:Delta delivers best-in-class instrument performance, including: The highest resolution, 2 GHz oscilloscope The only spectrum analyzer that provides full 2 GHz bandwidth down to 0 Hz for 1/f noise measurements The highest-channel count, ultra-low noise, microwave lock-in amplifier Up to 8 instrument slots and 15 standard instruments More than 2 billion possible custom instrument configurations "We created Moku:Delta to help engineers go faster, think bigger, and stay focused on the hard problems," said Daniel Shaddock, CEO of Liquid Instruments. "It's also the first step in a new era of generative instrumentation, bringing together the performance of hardware, the flexibility of software, and the creative potential of AI." With a growing suite of Moku platforms, including Moku:Go, Moku:Lab, Moku:Pro, and now Moku:Delta, Liquid Instruments continues to empower engineers and scientists to drive innovation in industries including quantum, semiconductor, and aerospace and defence. "Moku:Delta's leap in bandwidth and channel count is exactly what we've been waiting for. We've never had this level of flexibility and performance combined in a single platform," said Associate Professor Francis Bennet, laser communication research group leader at the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. "With 2 GHz bandwidth and 8 analog inputs and outputs, it delivers everything we need — all in one device." About Liquid Instruments Developing complex technologies requires increasingly sophisticated test systems, but the uniqueness of most applications demands adaptable, customized configurations. Traditional multi-instrument setups add significant cost and time, both upfront and throughout the test cycle. Liquid Instruments' reconfigurable Moku is the only integrated test solution engineered for seamless customization — whether for simple tests or intricate multi-instrument environments. Used in hundreds of labs worldwide, Moku accelerates the journey from idea to implementation by an order of magnitude, cutting the time and cost of advanced research and development. Designed by researchers for researchers, Moku delivers unparalleled efficiency in today's most complex test scenarios while adapting to your evolving needs in the future. Experience Moku cost-free by requesting a demo today at
Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Youth radicalisation a pressing security concern for Singapore: Faishal Ibrahim
Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim speaking at the Religious Rehabilitation Group's 20th annual retreat, held at the Mandai Rainforest Resort, on June 24. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN SINGAPORE – Youth radicalisation remains a pressing security concern for Singapore, with the authorities sounding the alarm over the number of young people detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Speaking on June 24 at the Religious Rehabilitation Group's (RRG) 20th annual retreat, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim noted that in the span of a decade, 17 youth have been dealt with under the ISA. Two-thirds of them were detected in the last five years alone, added Associate Professor Faishal at the event, which was held at the Mandai Rainforest Resort. 'In an increasingly interconnected world, the proliferation of extremist materials and ideological echo chambers in digital spaces where youths spend a lot of time has facilitated and accelerated their radicalisation,' said Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs. He said that youth are particularly vulnerable to extremist influences as they are still in the midst of forming their self-identity and developing critical thinking skills. 'In tandem, we are facing an emerging trend of radicalised youths leveraging evolving technologies, such as artificial Intelligence and 3D printing,' added Prof Faishal. He noted that the 17-year-old far-right supporter who was detained by the Internal Security Department in March considered using 3D printing to manufacture a firearm, to circumvent strict anti-gun laws in Singapore. The teen had wanted to use a gun to conduct mass shooting attacks in local mosques. He had planned to kill at least 100 Muslims as they were leaving after Friday prayers, and then kill himself. Said Prof Faishal: 'At the point of his arrest, he admitted that he had not carried out his attacks only because he was unable to procure a gun.' In his speech, Prof Faishal also highlighted that the domestic threat environment has evolved dramatically. The RRG had initially started by tackling the threat of Islamist extremism from members of organised terrorist groups, specifically the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), but it had to adapt to address the threat of self-radicalisation. He noted that the profile of radicalised individuals has expanded to include women. In February, a 15-year-old became the first female teen to be dealt with under the ISA and placed under a restriction order. The teen had aspired to marry an ISIS fighter and start a pro-ISIS family, and also hoped to fight in Syria and die a martyr. Said Prof Faishal: 'It is in this threat environment that the role of RRG's female asatizah (religious teachers) has become indispensable, providing nuanced interventions and a unique understanding of the complex factors driving this radicalisation phenomenon among women and youth, and to help counter the appeal of extremism.' RRG is a voluntary organisation that brought Islamic scholars and teachers together in 2003 to correct misinterpretations of Islamic texts and concepts. The group also voluntarily assists in the religious counselling of radicalised individuals and inoculates the wider community against extremist views. In 2005, the group recruited its first batch of female counsellors to help provide religious guidance to the wives and children of JI detainees. RRG co-chairman Mohamed Ali said that today, family-based intervention has become a key strategy of the RRG and its female counsellors, as they can help to address specific factors contributing to radicalisation. These can include absent or poor social support, he added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
