By Bac Pham and Bennett Murray Vietnam breathed a sigh of relief when US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal had been struck between Hanoi and Washington. The Vietnam Stock Index reached its highest level since April 2022, indicating confidence that export stability had been achieved. On the face of it, the deal is […]
Read MoreRIO DE JANEIRO: Malaysia PM Anwar has called on BRICS to boost intra-trade and for the grouping to emerge as a strong and principled force amid unilateral tariff measures and protectionist policies. At the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Rio De Janeiro, which runs from Sunday (Jul 6) to Monday, Anwar also said that Malaysian […]
Read MoreBy Sam Beltran The stranglehold of political dynasties on Philippine democracy risks deepening public disillusionment and limiting political pluralism, the European Union’s election mission has warned, as it called for sweeping reforms to the country’s “outdated” election code and party-list system. In its final report released on Thursday, the EU Election Observation Mission said political […]
Read MoreVietnam’s economy grew at a faster pace in the second quarter of this year led by strong exports, in an encouraging sign just days after US President Donald Trump said he would place lower-than-threatened 20% tariffs on many Vietnamese products. Concerns over the Southeast Asian manufacturing hub’s outlook had been growing in the run up […]
Read MoreIndonesia has offered to cut duties on key imports from the United States to “near zero” and to buy $500 million worth of US wheat as part of its tariff talks with Washington, its lead negotiator and a wheat industry association said on Friday. Chief economics minister Airlangga Hartarto, who is Indonesia’s lead negotiator, also […]
Read MoreBy Joseph Sipalan Expertly switching between woks as he whips up appam, the coconut and rice batter pancakes that draw morning commuters to his roadside stall in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, Raj Kumar harbours anxieties that simmer away beneath the calm: petrol subsidy cuts are looming and prices may soon rise again. At 44, Raj […]
Read MoreBy Maria Siow The suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has reignited debate over the Constitutional Court’s growing influence in Thailand’s democratic system, amid concerns electoral mandates risk being curtailed by judicial and conservative power centres. While the court’s decision on Tuesday to suspend Paetongtarn over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun […]
Read MoreBy Hadi Azmi The bankruptcy of high-profile fashion designer Jovian Mandagie, the former son-in-law of Malaysia’s ex-prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has brought renewed attention to the growing scandals surrounding the former leader’s family. Jovian, once a household name in Malaysian and Indonesian fashion circles, was declared bankrupt by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on […]
Read MoreBy Raissa Robles The Philippines’ maritime dispute with China has spilled into the courts after a top coastguard official filed a cyber libel case against a pro-Beijing influencer over explosive – and, he claims, baseless – allegations that he is a paid asset of the United States. Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for Philippine Coast Guard […]
Read MoreThailand’s opposition parties said on Thursday that they will hold off on launching a no-confidence vote against suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pending a court ruling, but they vowed to work together to avoid political deadlock. Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Paetongtarn from her duties after accepting a petition from 36 senators who accused […]
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