Morning Brief

The first quarter of 2025 has seen significant developments among major US tech companies, with many surpassing Wall Street expectations, driven largely by advancements in AI and cloud services. Dan Ives, Managing Director at Wedbush Securities, shares his insights into what tech companies to pay attention to.

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The Taiwanese dollar jumped more than 6% in the span of two days this week, causing ripples across global forex markets. How much is this related to ongoing US-Taiwan trade negotiations? We discuss this with Caroline Wong, APAC Country Risk Analyst at BMI.

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U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have prompted exporters to use tactics like "place-of-origin washing," routing goods through third countries like Malaysia. This raises concerns about Malaysia's reputation, leading the Airfreight Forwarders Association of Malaysia (AFAM) to call for stricter checks on certificates of origin. Its Chairman, Thomas Matthew shares insights on the need for stronger regulations to prevent misuse.

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On May 5th, Israel expanded ground operations in southern Gaza and introduced a new aid plan, triggering backlash from humanitarian groups. As civilian tolls rise, Netanyahu faces pressure at home and abroad—despite U.S. backing. How could this shift Israel’s diplomatic standing? For more insights, we speak with Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at The Australian National University.

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Parliament convened urgently to address the 24% U.S. tariff on Malaysian exports, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim outlining a 90-day negotiation window. The tariff threatens Malaysia’s growth targets, prompting calls for strategic responses to safeguard trade, attract investment, and sustain global economic partnerships. Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, Director of IDEAS unpacks the potential strategies and outcomes.

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Malaysia has moved up 19 places in the World Press Freedom Index, signaling progress despite structural concerns. Radzi Razak, from Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM) and a pro-tem member of the new Malaysian Media Council, discusses the factors behind the improvement and the key hurdles that remain for the country’s media landscape.

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The Bank of Japan has cut its growth outlook while maintaining monetary policy in the face of global tariffs. In South Korea, snap elections next month is ramping up political uncertainty. William Pesek, a columnist at Nikkei Asia helps us unpack what we can expect in the days and weeks ahead.

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In Singapore, the People’s Action Party (PAP) dominates again with 87 out of 97 seats, as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong scores 65.6% of the vote. Despite the strong win, growing concerns over housing and living costs continue to weigh on many Singaporeans. Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at Singapore Management University shares his analysis on what the election results really mean for the future of the country.

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Australia's opposition party has been left reeling after a bruising defeat in Saturday's federal election. Meanwhile, Labor's Anthony Albanese has defied the so-called "incumbency curse" to be re-elected Australia's prime minister in a landslide. Taking us through Australia’s election results is Dr Rob Manwaring, Associate Professor in the College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University.

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Malaysia’s private healthcare sector is pushing back against a new mandate requiring the public display of drug prices. Doctors argue this policy was imposed without meaningful consultation and threatens the financial viability of smaller private practices. How might this regulatory shift reshape the dynamics between private practitioners and public health policy in Malaysia? Unpacking this matter is Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO, Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy.

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