As the Israel-Iran War intensifies, Europe is faced with big questions. University of Nottingham Malaysia's Dr. Benjamin Barton unpacks the continent's deep divide: Spain's refusal to aid US strikes, Germany's strategic silence to protect Ukraine funding, and Donald Trump's retaliatory tariff threats against the EU. Are we witnessing the limits of European strategic autonomy?



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As the Israel-Iran War intensifies, Europe is faced with big questions. University of Nottingham Malaysia's Dr. Benjamin Barton unpacks the continent's deep divide: Spain's refusal to aid US strikes, Germany's strategic silence to protect Ukraine funding, and Donald Trump's retaliatory tariff threats against the EU. Are we witnessing the limits of European strategic autonomy?The First Look is brought to you by HLB Priority. We know what your real priorities are.Image Credit: Shutterstock

Opinion and analysis of today’s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.

Opinion and analysis of today&rsquo;s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.

Morning Brief

US-Israel War on Iran: Europe’s Deep Divide

Ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s debut Jackson Hole address, financial markets remain obsessed with categorising him as either a hawk or a dove. But framing his monetary policy through conventional labels misses a much larger structural shift underway at the Fed. Dr. Ray Choy, Chief Economist at MARC Ratings, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to explore the policy philosophy driving Warsh's deliberate move away from forward guidance.

We discuss why traditional forward guidance may be damaging price discovery, how concepts like George Soros’s market reflexivity shape Warsh's worldview, and what happens when central banks start viewing markets as information sources rather than passive followers. Dr. Ray Choy also explores how a less vocal Fed could drive greater market data dependency and outlines the three structural signals to watch for during the Jackson Hole symposium.



Image Credit: Shutterstock

Ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s debut Jackson Hole address, financial markets remain obsessed with categorising him as either a hawk or a dove. But framing his monetary policy through conventional labels misses a much larger structural shift underway at the Fed. Dr. Ray Choy, Chief Economist at MARC Ratings, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to explore the policy philosophy driving Warsh's deliberate move away from forward guidance.We discuss why traditional forward guidance may be damaging price discovery, how concepts like George Soros’s market reflexivity shape Warsh's worldview, and what happens when central banks start viewing markets as information sources rather than passive followers. Dr. Ray Choy also explores how a less vocal Fed could drive greater market data dependency and outlines the three structural signals to watch for during the Jackson Hole symposium.Image Credit: Shutterstock

Rethinking Kevin Warsh & 3 Jackson Hole Signals to Watch

With less than ten weeks to go before the US midterm elections, all 435 House seats and one-third of the Senate are on the ballot. Against a backdrop of sliding approval ratings, persistent inflation, high interest rates, and foreign policy challenges, the elections are shaping up to be a critical referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term. Ambassador Robert Blake, Senior Managing Director at McLarty Associates, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to analyse the political landscape and what a shifted Congress could mean for global policy.

He discusses how low presidential approval ratings could threaten moderate Republicans in key battlegrounds like Maine, whether the math favors Democrats flipping the House or Senate, and how a divided Congress might impact executive orders, tax policy, and oversight of defense spending. Ambassador Blake also explores how progressive messaging could complicate efforts to win over crucial independent voters in swing states.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

With less than ten weeks to go before the US midterm elections, all 435 House seats and one-third of the Senate are on the ballot. Against a backdrop of sliding approval ratings, persistent inflation, high interest rates, and foreign policy challenges, the elections are shaping up to be a critical referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term. Ambassador Robert Blake, Senior Managing Director at McLarty Associates, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to analyse the political landscape and what a shifted Congress could mean for global policy.He discusses how low presidential approval ratings could threaten moderate Republicans in key battlegrounds like Maine, whether the math favors Democrats flipping the House or Senate, and how a divided Congress might impact executive orders, tax policy, and oversight of defense spending. Ambassador Blake also explores how progressive messaging could complicate efforts to win over crucial independent voters in swing states. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Trump’s Approval Drop: Midterm Risks & Gridlock

Following Selangor’s overall victory at Sukma 2026, the state government declared September 1st a special public holiday, leaving private sector employers scrambling on short notice and workers unsure of their legal rights. Victor Gan, CEO of E2 Workforce Consulting, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to clear up the legal confusion for both employers and employees.

Tune in to discover:

Are private sector companies legally required to observe ad-hoc state holidays, or can work carry on as usual? 

Can an employer simply credit an extra day of annual leave instead of paying public holiday rates or offering a replacement day?

What are the five non-replaceable compulsory national holidays under Malaysian law, and how do they differ from state declarations?

What common HR mistakes do companies make during short-notice public holiday announcements?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Following Selangor’s overall victory at Sukma 2026, the state government declared September 1st a special public holiday, leaving private sector employers scrambling on short notice and workers unsure of their legal rights. Victor Gan, CEO of E2 Workforce Consulting, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to clear up the legal confusion for both employers and employees.Tune in to discover:Are private sector companies legally required to observe ad-hoc state holidays, or can work carry on as usual? Can an employer simply credit an extra day of annual leave instead of paying public holiday rates or offering a replacement day?What are the five non-replaceable compulsory national holidays under Malaysian law, and how do they differ from state declarations?What common HR mistakes do companies make during short-notice public holiday announcements? Image Credit: Shutterstock

US-Israel War on Iran: Europe’s Deep Divide

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