If Daniel Moss of Bloomberg has accurate facts on his hand by just working harder to look at the latest ranking of the Fragile States Index (FSI 2021), he would not have been gloating in his article that Malaysia is staggering down the road to failed statehood.

The injustice of stereotyping Malaysia as a failed state

The US appears to have tempered its demands for the payback of aid by Ukraine during talks over an economic deal between the two nations, according to people familiar with the matter.

Following a round of negotiations in Washington last week, President Donald Trump’s administration has reduced its estimate for the assistance the US provided to Kyiv since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion from US$300 billion (RM1.33 trillion) to about US$100 billion, the people said. This bring it closer to Ukraine’s own estimate of more than US$90 billion.

US softened calls for Ukraine to pay back aid in mineral deal talks — Bloomberg

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Wednesday there was little comfort in the US postponing most of its proposed "reciprocal" tariffs, saying the changes had already created great uncertainty.

Singapore PM says little comfort from US tariff postponement

Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland gave a personal guarantee to the global head of YouTube that the platform would be exempt from the country’s social media ban for under-16s, even before an official consultation process on the special carveout, according to documents obtained under freedom-of-information laws.

YouTube was guaranteed exemption from Australia social media ban

Ho Chin Keng has had a passion for the arts from a young age. “I have been interested in anything that is related to the arts since I was young and it was my school teacher who suggested I pursue architecture.”

After completing his SPM, he pursued a degree in architecture at Universiti ...

Designworks: Guided by design thinking process

From fighter planes to nuclear reactor rods and smartphones, rare earth minerals are vital to a wide array of products. As geopolitical and trade tensions rise, China’s dominance of both mining and processing means these niche metals have become a cudgel to use against opponents.

Seven rare earth metals that China is weaponising against US

Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek has been advised by the Perak State Mufti Department to stop giving religious lectures and talks at mosques and surau following his nomination for the Ayer Kuning state by-election.

Ayer Kuning by-election: PN candidate told to stop religious talks at mosques

The Indonesian Attorney General's Office said it has arrested an employee of global palm oil company Wilmar Group on graft charges related to corruption in obtaining export permits, a day after the firm denied its staff were being investigated.

Indonesia arrests Wilmar employee linked to palm oil graft case

The European Union (EU) is reducing the administrative burden of rules to curb deforestation globally by making it easier for importers to prove they have done the necessary paperwork.

The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch, said late on Tuesday that companies would be able to submit due-diligence statements annually rather than for each cargo they import. It also eased obligations for firms to check up on those further down the supply chain.

EU cuts red tape for importers before deforestation law kicks in

Nextgreen Global Bhd (KL:NGGB), a company which turns oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) into paper, plans to set up a joint venture company with Chinese Fortune Global 500 company Xiamen C&D Paper & Pulp Group Co Ltd (Xiamen C&D) to set up a RM900 million paper pulp plant in Pahang.

Nextgreen Global to partner China’s Xiamen C&D for a RM900m pulp plant in Pahang

Native Customary Rights (NCR) land under dispute or involved in court proceedings will not be subject to surveying, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

NCR land under dispute not subject to surveying, says Sarawak deputy premier

President Donald Trump’s administration has barred Nvidia Corp from selling its H20 chip in China, an escalation of Washington’s tech battle with Beijing that will cost the company billions of dollars and hamstring a product line it explicitly designed to comply with previous US curbs.

Nvidia warns Trump curbs on China chips to cost US$5.5 bil

Chinese President Xi Jinping was given a state welcome at Istana Negara on Wednesday in conjunction with a three-day state visit starting on Tuesday at the invitation of the King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

Chinese President Xi accorded state welcome at Istana Negara

Malaysian exports to the US were meant to be hit with a 24% tariff, effective April 9. Certain goods, such as semiconductors, were to be exempted. This was part of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade policy targeting countries that the US has large trade deficits with.

How much does Malaysia trade with the US?

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is offering up to 30% off on airfares for economy and business class on all Malaysian Airlines routes, domestic and international, in conjunction with Matta Fair 2025.

MAG offers up to 30% off for Malaysian Airlines tickets at Matta Fair

US President Donald Trump called on China to reach out to him in order to kick off negotiations aimed at resolving the escalating trade fight between the world’s two largest economies.&nbsp;

Trump presses China to make tariff offer to calm trade war

Malaysian banks, in spite of their domestic focus, will not emerge completely unscathed from the escalating international trade tensions, TA Securities flagged on Wednesday.

Malaysian banks, despite local focus, will suffer from trade tensions fallout — TA Securities

The government will implement the diagnostic-related group (DRG) payment system only for new basic health insurance and takaful products, instead of changing the entire private healthcare payment model, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research.

Govt to apply diagnostics-related group payment system to basic insurance only, private healthcare model unaffected — HLIB Research

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's new&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;could&nbsp;cost&nbsp;US semiconductor&nbsp;equipment&nbsp;makers&nbsp;more&nbsp;than US$1&nbsp;billion (RM4.42 billion) a year, according to industry calculations discussed with officials and lawmakers&nbsp;in Washington last week, two sources familiar with the matter said.

US tariffs may cost chip equipment makers more than US$1 bil, industry estimates

Gold rose to a record high as the Trump administration pressed ahead with probes that could broaden a sweeping trade war, boosting demand for havens.

Gold climbs to record as expanding trade war aids haven demand

The 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial, which has been on the 'tail-end' for months, seems to be protracted even longer with more contestations to subpoena possible witnesses.

1MDB-Tanore: Now, IGP contests defence’s subpoena

Shares fell in Asia on Wednesday as AI darling Nvidia took a hit from US curbs on chip sales to China, highlighting the damage to come in a tit-for-tat global trade war, while gold hit a record and the safe-haven currencies jumped.

Shares skid in Asia as Nvidia curbs fan worries, gold surges to record

China's first-quarter economic growth outstripped expectations, underpinned by solid consumption and industrial output, but analysts fear momentum could shift sharply lower as US tariffs pose the biggest risk to the Asian powerhouse in decades.

China 1Q GDP growth beats expectations, but US tariff shock looms large

Four weeks before Melbourne entered lockdown in March 2020, a group of councillors gathered in the city’s Town Hall to back a proposal for the tallest structure that Australia had ever seen, one that would see a spiralling green garden wrapped around a 365-metre skyscraper.

A US$1.7 bil plan to build Australia’s tallest tower falters

President Donald Trump launched a probe into the need for tariffs on critical minerals, the latest action in an expanding trade war that has targeted key sectors of the global economy.

Trump launches critical minerals probe to weigh new tariffs

The King,&nbsp;Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has expressed his belief that Malaysia and China will continue to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, despite various geopolitical gaps around the world.

King confident Malaysia, China will continue to empower cooperation

Shares of Aurelius Technologies Bhd (KL:ATECH) extended gains sharply, outperforming peers and the broader market on Wednesday, after announcing a bonus share issue.

Aurelius Tech's stock rises more than 4% after bonus share issue plan

Sapura Energy Bhd (KL:SAPNRG) has secured multiple contracts worth nearly RM100 million combined in Malaysia and Thailand to provide offshore support vessels.

Sapura Energy bags multiple contracts worth nearly RM100 mil

The High Court here has given time for the lawyers of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to “consider his approach” in contempt of court proceedings that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has brought against him.&nbsp;

Zahid’s attempt to commit Mahathir for contempt postponed after court gives time for Dr M to 'consider his approach'

Stocks whipsawed as President Donald Trump’s fast-evolving tariff war with top trade partners showed little signs of abating, leaving investors unwilling to take on too much risk after a two-day rally.

That’s even as results from Wall Street’s financial heavyweights underscored an equity-trading boon and still-healthy consumers and businesses.

US stocks halt rally amid lingering trade-war risks

US equity-index futures slumped after Nvidia Corp said the government was setting new limits on its exports to China and President Donald Trump ordered a probe into potential tariffs on critical minerals.

Nasdaq 100 contracts fell more than 1% in early trading, while S&amp;P 500 futures dropped 0.8% after the index finished slightly lower Tuesday.

Dr Rais Hussin & Jamari Mohtar