Morning Brief

Iran has been facing widespread unrest since Dec 28, with economic hardship sparking protests across the country and policymakers attempting reforms amid US sanctions and a faltering currency. Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, shares his analysis on the situation.

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Three days after the US operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, questions now arise over what comes next and what the dynamics of power might look like going forward. Julia Sinitsky, a country risk analyst at BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, shares her insights.

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Following the United States' military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and transferring him to New York to drug and terrorism charges, questions about its legality arise. Dr Juliette McIntyre, Senior Law Lecturer at the University of South Australia, unpacks what the law allows, and what this moment could mean for the international order.

This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly Emirates

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CES, the biggest tech trade show started yesterday in Las Vegas.  This annual event is expected to showcase the latest bells and whistles of the industry with a focus on all things related to AI. We ask Dan Ives, Managing Director, Wedbush Securities for his observations of this event and which companies will be the winners in the AI revolution.

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Since January 1st, new changes to Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund (or EPF) have come into effect.  These include the Retirement Income Adequacy (or RIA) framework, new policies for high balance accounts, and expanded coverage for gig workers and homemakers through i Saraan Plus and i Suri. Dr Paul Anthony Maria Das, Senior Lecturer, School of Accounting and Finance Faculty of Business and Law, Taylor’s University tells us if the impact of these changes are cosmetic or if legislative changes are needed to reduce the retirement gap.

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim unveiled a new slate of institutional reforms, most of which had been GE15 manifesto promises anyway. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s opposition is in flux, with leadership changes in Perikatan Nasional and renewed calls to revive Muafakat Nasional. Dr Azmil Tayeb, Associate Professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia shares his insights.

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Malaysia has  RE goals of 31% capacity by 2025, 40% by 2035, and 70% by 2050. To achieve this there are a myriad of initiatives and policies by different government agencies. We ask  Royce Tan, Senior Analyst, MBSB Research for details of these initiatives and which listed companies stand to benefit.

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Malaysia’s sovereign wealth landscape is shifting. Khazanah Nasional remains the federal anchor, Sarawak has legislated its own fund with approval to invest globally, and Sabah has renewed plans for a state sovereign fund after years of discussion. What are the gold standards for governance, accountability and the importance of clear mandates ? We speak to Dr Elsa Satkunasingam, Director and Senior Lecturer at Iclif, Asia School of Business.

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After months of mounting tensions, the United States launched a military strike in Venezuela capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Dr Kathryn Robison, Lecturer in American Studies, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney tells us what the implications and legality of this action is.

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With the clock ticking, the Madani Government has less than two years to implement reforms that strengthen Malaysia’s institutions. Dr. Wong Chin Huat, Political Scientist, Sunway University tells us the best way to ensure that this Government takes so that reforms are implemented effectively and also quickly.

This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly Emirates

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