Latest news with #hinder
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'No Secret Police': Blue States Open Fresh Front Against Masked Unmarked ICE Agents I Details
Democratic-led states in the U.S. are proposing bans on ICE agents wearing masks and mandating visible ID cards during operations. California, New York, Massachusetts, and cities like Chicago and Albuquerque are considering such laws, citing public fear of masked agents kidnapping or assaulting immigrants. Supporters argue these measures prevent impersonation crimes, while DHS warns bans will endanger ICE agents and hinder enforcement. The DOJ maintains states cannot regulate federal law enforcement uniforms. Latino communities remain deeply worried about masked raids. Democrats in Congress now push for a national ban on ICE masks, escalating state-federal clashes. Read More
Malaysian Reserve
17-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Armizan: Comprehensive e-commerce bill expected to be tabled early next year
PUTRAJAYA — A bill to strengthen the legal framework for e-commerce is expected to be tabled in Parliament during its first session next year, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. He said the ongoing review of e-commerce legislation commenced in April 2024 and is expected to conclude by August, involving engagement with stakeholders across the industry, among others. 'The review is necessary as the current legal framework lacks clear regulatory powers over electronic transactions, with the existing Electronic Commerce Act serving mainly as an enabling act. 'Enforcement currently depends on the Consumer Protection Act and related regulations, which were meant to be temporary. We need a comprehensive and fair framework accepted by all stakeholders to support e-commerce growth,' he told reporters after an engagement session today. Armizan said Malaysia's e-commerce sector recorded steady growth, with revenue rising from RM1.13 trillion in 2022 to RM1.22 trillion last year. He emphasised that new regulations must not hinder the sector's development, noting that once a mechanism is in place for local platforms, a similar approach will be considered for foreign-based operators. He added that, at present, the ministry has no authority to regulate or monitor foreign platforms without a physical presence in Malaysia, raising concerns over the influx of foreign products and tax inequality. Armizan also said that discussions are underway with countries such as China and Turkiye on a government-to-government (G2G) mechanism, particularly on regulating cross-border e-commerce and direct selling. Meanwhile, Armizan said consumer protection is a key focus in the ongoing review of the e-commerce legal framework, particularly on the use of automated decision-making (ADM) systems or algorithms that may contain manipulative elements. He said the ministry is also looking into growing concerns over recent increases in platform fees imposed by several e-commerce operators, noting that such fee hikes are business decisions made by the platforms themselves. 'In my view, the timing of their fee adjustments is not appropriate, especially since some had already revised their commission fees as recently as August last year,' he said. He added that while blocking such decisions entirely may not be realistic, the ministry is exploring a mechanism requiring platforms to consult with them or relevant agencies before making fee changes that affect users or sellers. To date, the review process has involved 23 engagement sessions, six roundtable discussions, four benchmarking visits abroad and over 300 respondents, with sessions in Sabah and Sarawak to follow. — BERNAMA
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Xander Schauffele sent strong message from dad over £148m LIV Golf offer
Xander Schauffele was offered up to £148m ($200m) to join the LIV Golf breakaway league, but his father Stefan urged him to remain loyal to the PGA Tour Xander Schauffele notably valued silverware over a staggering £148million enticement from LIV Golf, a decision backed by his father. Despite the lure of an enormous payday and new opportunities, his choice to forgo the breakaway tour was steered by sage advice from his father and former coach, Stefan Schauffele. The American golfer is set to tee off at The Open Championship this week, with the aim of retaining the Claret Jug for his trophy cabinet. Schauffele was made an offer that ranged between an approximate £111m and £148m to defect from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf series, illustrating just how lucrative the Saudi-backed golf circuit has become. But it wasn't purely paternal counsel that influenced the 31-year-old's decision to stay put; concerns over the restriction on world-ranking points available on the rival circuit could hinder participation in major tournaments played a part. The world-ranking tally was crucial for up-and-coming stars like Schauffele, who wanted to etch their names in sporting history rather than the richest athletes list. In an unequivocal stance, Stefan made it clear that even a fortune worth double their original offer would not tempt them away from the integrity of traditional competition. He told The Times: "They could've doubled the money and we still wouldn't do it." That firm stance seemed to pay dividends when Schauffele secured back-to-back majors: the PGA Championship followed by The Open, notching almost £5m in winnings from those high-profile victories alone. His bank balance increased greatly with £2.3m from The Open win and £2.5m from his PGA Championship glory. Schauffele and his father Stefan, who has served as his swing coach and agent, have shared the emotional highs of their incredible journey together, including Xander's gold medal win at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Recounting the triumph, Xander said: "That was a seriously emotional moment." The success also deeply touched Stefan, who added: "You're going to make me cry just thinking about it. He understood how huge the Olympics was for me. We got in the car and he gave me the medal and said, 'This is for you.'" With The Open Championship on the horizon, Schauffele is eyeing yet another addition to his already impressive accolades, while aiming to make his dad proud once more. But winning won't be easy, as golf sensations like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are also vying for their second major win of the year, promising a riveting challenge for the Claret Jug.
Business Insider
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ukraine is trying to get answers amid worries that the Pentagon's ammo hold could impact its much-needed Patriots and more
The US is halting the delivery of ammunition to Ukraine, and reports indicate that some of the most effective and necessary American weapons the country has received could be affected. Ukraine says it is working to get answers. Hits to air defense interceptor capacity, for instance, could hinder its strained batteries at a moment when Russia is ramping up its attacks. Over the weekend, it struck Ukraine with one of the largest bombardments of the war. The decision to cancel a shipment of weapons and ammo that had been promised by the Biden administration was confirmed on Wednesday. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Business Insider that "this decision was made to put America's interests first following a DoD [Department of Defense] review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe." She added that "the strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran." News on the decision was first reported by Politico, which said that it came after the Pentagon reviewed its stockpiles and expressed concern that some critical munitions were in dwindling supply, raising questions about US readiness. The Pentagon has made threats like China a priority, and readying to meet that threat would require a significant amount of weaponry. A US defense official told BI that DoD continues to provide President Donald Trump with "robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end." At the same time, they said, the department is also "rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for Administration defense priorities." Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a later briefing that the pause comes amid an ongoing capabilities review for the department. He characterized it as a common-sense approach to determine what weapons are going where and for what purpose. Freeze on critical munitions Neither the White House nor the Department of Defense specified the type of weapons being withheld, but a number of reports indicate that key US systems could be impacted, including howitzers, Patriots, and HIMARS, systems that have been critical in this war. The air defenses, in particular, have been critical in shielding Ukraine's cities from Russian missile strikes. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that officials are clarifying the changes with their US counterparts, and stressed the importance of air defenses. Trump acknowledged at the annual NATO summit last week that Ukraine wanted more Patriot interceptors and said the US would "see if we can make some available," but he cautioned that "they're very hard to get. We need them, too." The US-made M1M-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system, manufactured primarily by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, has been key to protecting Ukraine from Russian missile strikes since Kyiv first received it two years ago. Ukraine now reportedly operates six Patriots across the country. Other countries, like Germany and the Netherlands, have also provided Patriots and could potentially provide interceptors. Ukraine has said it's running low on the interceptors, meaning the delay of further supplies from the US could be detrimental. "Patriot systems are vital to Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes," the DC-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said recently. This is especially true "as Russia is reportedly increasing its production and stockpile of ballistic missile production capacity to enable larger and more frequent ballistic missile strikes against Ukraine," it said. Reports indicate that interceptor missiles used by other systems could also be on hold. The US and Qatar fired Patriots to defend a US base there from Iranian missiles, in what a top general called the largest Patriot air battle in history. And a top admiral warned last year that the shipments to Ukraine were using Patriots that could be utilized elsewhere. The delay of other systems, like rocket artillery for HIMARS, could hurt Ukraine's ability to conduct deep strikes against targets behind enemy lines. HIMARS, made by Lockheed Martin, launch GPS-guided rockets with a range of 50 miles. Ukraine made waves with high-profile strikes using HIMARS on columns of Russian troops, command centers, and ammunition depots, constraining Moscow's logistics network early in the war. HIMARS can fire a six-pack of precision-guided Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems or one Army Tactical Missile System, a long-range guided missile. Under Biden, the US provided only a limited number of ATACMS missiles due in part to the size of its own stockpile. While Russian electronic warfare countermeasures and ammunition shortages have reduced the overall combat effectiveness of HIMARS, the weapons have given Ukraine a key capability. In artillery battles, M777 howitzers have also been beneficial, but 155mm ammunition, said to be part of the hold, can be fired by many artillery systems. Holds could strain those capabilities, as the 155mm shells are in high demand. What the US decision means for Ukraine At the moment, Russia is intensifying its offensives across eastern and northeastern Ukraine, targeting cities like Pokrovsk and expanding into the Sumy region. Ukraine faces mounting pressure amid uncertainty with regard to US support, forcing it to rely more on European partners. Ukraine continues to hit deep into Russia, but with weaponry and ammunition shortages and unclear diplomatic prospects, its position is increasingly precarious. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a televised interview on Fox News that "Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get," and that includes ammunition and air defense. After the Trump administration's decision was announced, Ukraine's defense ministry said it hadn't received any official notification regarding the suspension of previously agreed-upon aid. It added in a Telegram post that it had requested a call with US counterparts to further clarify details. Speaking on Ukrainian television on Wednesday, Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukraine's presidential office who previously told BI that losing access to Patriots is a concern, said he didn't expect the US would end its air defense support. "America will not abandon its support for Ukraine in protecting civilians from Russian strikes," he said, adding that "there are enough anti-missile systems and missiles for them in US warehouses." Ukraine has found itself short on US support previously when roadblocks in Congress jammed up support, and Trump has at times put pressure on Ukraine to push it toward his administration's vision for peace, which hasn't always been consistent with Kyiv's. This decision is "not likely to bring about President Trump's desired ceasefire," George Barros, a Russian military expert at ISW, said. Trump previously paused aid to Ukraine after his contentious meeting in March with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, seeing it as a needed step toward securing a ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Iran–Israel war could push freight, insurance costs, disrupt Red Sea trade; govt to meet traders this week
An escalating Iran–Israel war could push up freight and insurance costs on shipping routes and hinder efforts to normalise trade through the Red Sea, affecting Indian exports to West Asia and Europe, exporters and government officials said on Monday as the Commerce and Industry Ministry is set to meet traders this week to take stock of the situation. This comes as the deadly conflict between Iran and Israel entered its fourth day, fuelling fresh concerns over global trade, especially oil flows, amid fears that Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20–30 per cent of global oil trade passes—in retaliation for Israeli attacks. 'Freight and insurance costs could go up due to the ongoing war, but the route for Indian goods is away from the conflict zone. There has not been an immediate impact on Indian shipments,' a government official said. 'The Commerce and Industry Ministry will assess the situation and meet exporters and shipping representatives this week,' another official added. 'The impact of the war is likely to derail efforts to normalise Red Sea trade. Shipping on the route had shrunk dramatically due to Houthi attacks last year, but recently, around 30 per cent of vessels had resumed using it. The renewed tensions will also raise insurance premiums, hitting Indian exports to West Asia and Europe,' an exporter said. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), in a report, said India has significant trade exposure to both warring nations. In FY25, India exported goods worth $1.24 billion to Iran and imported $441.9 million. Trade with Israel was even higher, with $2.15 billion in exports and $1.61 billion in imports, the report noted. 'But more critical than these bilateral flows is India's dependence on the region for energy: nearly two-thirds of its crude oil and half of its LNG imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has now threatened to close. This narrow waterway, only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, handles nearly a fifth of global oil trade and is indispensable to India, which relies on imports for over 80 per cent of its energy needs,' GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said. Srivastava warned that any closure or military disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would sharply raise oil prices, shipping costs, and insurance premiums—triggering inflation, pressuring the rupee, and complicating India's fiscal management. 'Israel's 14–15 June strike on Houthi military leadership in Yemen has heightened tensions in the Red Sea, where Houthi forces have already attacked commercial shipping. For India, this poses another serious risk. Nearly 30 per cent of its westbound exports to Europe, North Africa, and the US pass through the region,' GTRI said. The renewed instability could pose deeper macroeconomic challenges for India, extending beyond trade, especially given its growing reliance on oil imports. While India was forced to halt oil imports from Iran following US sanctions in 2019, Goldman Sachs estimates that Iranian supply could fall by 1.75 million barrels per day (b/d) for six months before gradually recovering. 'Assuming OPEC+ compensates for half the peak shortfall from spare capacity, Brent could rise above $90 per barrel before retreating to the $60s by 2026 as supply recovers,' the investment bank said. A fall in prices of fruits, pulses, and cereals helped ease India's headline retail inflation to a 75-month low of 2.82 per cent in May 2025. This trend prompted the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to cut the policy repo rate by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points. However, the RBI cautioned that 'monetary policy is left with very limited space to support growth'. The Directorate General of Shipping had issued an advisory on Friday for all the Indian seafarers and Indian-flagged ships in Iranian ports or crossing through the Strait of Hormuz to be cautious, after Israel attacked Iran. It also advised seafarers to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary movement, and adhere to local safety protocols and other regulations for their own safety. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More
