Will the War on Iran Spiral Further?

Escalation of the War on Iran is spreading across the Gulf, threatening energy routes and regional stability. Ryan Bohl, Senior Middle East and North Africa Analyst at RANE Network, shares his insights. Image Credit: Shutterstock.

SMEs Stay Afloat Amid Middle East Turbulence

Malaysia SME sector is feeling the ripple effects of rising tensions in the Middle East through shipping delays, higher costs, and supply chain disruptions. How are these businesses preparing to navigate the challenges ahead? We’ll discuss this with Datuk William Ng, Chairman, Small and Medium Ente…

Tourism In Turmoil: When Middle East Tensions Take Flight

Although Malaysia is far from the conflict between the United States and Iran, the country is feeling its impact as disruptions at major Middle East transit hubs push up flight costs and travel times. How is the tourism sector coping, and what measures are being taken to maintain traveller confiden…

US Sidestepping IEEPA In New Probe?

Yesterday, it was reported that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated investigations into several economies, including Malaysia, over concerns about structural excess capacity and production in certain manufacturing sectors. Why is the US making this move at this…

MAGA at War, Rejuvenated Dems, Life After Trump

Washington is wrestling with the fallout of the Iran conflict as Brent crude stays above $90 a barrel, threatening a 0.3% inflation spike for every $10 rise. We explore whether these strikes will unify or fracture the "America First" movement, how deep the divide truly runs between the MAGA elite a…

AI Governance : Can Malaysia Keep Up?

Malaysia aims to establish AI standards within the next year as part of its broader ambition to become an AI-driven economy by 2030. Dr Jun-E Tan, Senior Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute, shares her insights on where the challenges may lie when building a governance framework that …

AI, Gold & Robots? China’s New Spending Reality

Spending in China has shifted from volume to value, creating a complex landscape for global investors. We explore whether Alibaba’s massive $1.4 billion bet on AI assistants successfully move the needle on consumer conversion, how record tourism numbers mask cautious per-trip spending, and if globa…

How to Make Statutory Bodies More Independent

A recent report by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) revealed that 78% of chairperson roles on federal statutory bodies lacked formal qualifications and political appointments remain widespread. Why have reforms been slow to take shape? We speak with Aira Azhari, Chief Execut…

Balancing Act for Japan Economy

Japan’s economy grew 0.3 percent quarter on quarter in the fourth quarter, stronger than first estimated, with domestic demand and business investment revised higher. But risks are building from weaker global trade, higher oil prices and pressure on real wages. We discuss what this means for Japan’…

GE16 Snap Polls? Bersatu Purges & Umno’s Open Door

With mounting speculation that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may call early GE16 elections to coincide with state polls in Melaka and Johor, we speak to Adib Zalkapli of Viewfinder Global Affairs to unpack recent developments. He weighs in on the internal tremors within Bersatu following the strat…