This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on January 18 - 24, 2016

The State of the Nation: Global headwinds, not low oil revenue, the real concern

Malaysian businesses recorded a sharp rise in ransomware activity last year, with attempts increasing by 153% year on year, according to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.

Kaspersky reports a 153% rise in ransomware attacks on Malaysian businesses in 2024

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng said on Wednesday that it had done a "thorough analysis" of its supply chain to ensure it would not be impacted by the current turmoil caused by US President Donald Trump's tariffs and tensions with China.

China's Xpeng says it reviewed supply chain to insulate it from tariff turmoil

When the US and Japan open trade talks on Wednesday, the world will be closely watching Ryosei Akazawa to provide a glimpse of what a deal with President Donald Trump might look like.

Novice Japan negotiator seeks to strike first deal with Trump

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

BEIJING (April 15): Chinese artificial intelligence startup Zhipu AI has initiated preliminary steps toward an initial public offering, aiming to become the first of China's emerging AI companies to go public.

Founded in 2019 as a Tsinghua University spinoff, Zhipu AI has emerged a...

China's Zhipu AI takes initial steps to an IPO

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

WASHINGTON (April 16): More than 22,000 employees at the tax-collecting Internal Revenue Service have accepted the Trump administration's latest buyout offer, two agency sources said on Tuesday.

The move this month, called a deferred resignation program, offers workers full pay and...

Over 22,000 IRS workers take Trump's latest buyout offer, agency sources say

Indonesia has raised the royalty rate to be paid by nickel, tin and other metal producers as the government searches for ways to fund President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious but costly priority policies.

Indonesia hikes mining royalties in bid to fund Prabowo policies

China's first-quarter economic growth beat expectations, underpinned by solid consumption and industrial output even as policymakers brace for the impact of US tariffs that analysts say pose the biggest risk to the Asian powerhouse in decades.

China first-quarter GDP growth beats expectations, but US tariff shock dims outlook

On April 2, the US announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on nearly all its major trading partners, escalating its protectionist stance to an unprecedented level. Market estimates indicate that these new policies have elevated the US’ effective tariff rates to levels seen following the Smoot-Hawle...

ECONtemplation: Three reflections on the dawn of US protectionism

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?

Nvidia Corp faces new US restrictions on the export of its H20 chip to China, a policy change that will cost the company billions of dollars and hamstring a product line that it explicitly designed to comply with previous curbs.

Nvidia says new limits on China exports to cost US$5.5 bil

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

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

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

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

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

Aurelius Tech's stock rises 8% after bonus share issue plan

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

China's first-quarter economic growth beat expectations, underpinned by solid consumption and industrial output even as policymakers brace for the impact of US tariffs that analysts say pose the biggest risk to the Asian powerhouse in decades.

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.

US futures slide on Nvidia curbs, minerals probe

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

Asian technology stocks fell after Nvidia Corp said the US government will begin requiring a licence to export its H20 chips to China, an escalation of restrictions.

Asian tech stocks slide on fresh China export curbs for Nvidia

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.

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.

Hong Kong Post said on Wednesday it had suspended goods mail services by sea to the US and will suspend its air mail postal service for items containing goods from April 27 due to "bullying" US tariffs.

Hong Kong Post suspends goods mail services to US

US advisory firm Alvarez &amp; Marsal Inc sees the real estate sector as the most at risk in Southeast Asia this year due to headwinds such as global trade frictions and a glut of residences.

Alvarez & Marsal sees Thai real estate distress on trade risks

Wire services including Reuters and Bloomberg News will no longer hold a permanent slot in the small pool of reporters who cover President Donald Trump, the White House said on Tuesday, as it moves to exert greater control over who gets to ask him questions and report on his statements in real time.

In latest media crackdown, White House limits newswire access to Trump

China’s yuan has slumped to the lowest in more than a decade against the euro just as President Donald Trump’s tariff deluge threatens to reroute trade flows from the world’s second-largest economy.

Yuan at decade low against euro risks more heat on trade flows

Indonesia won’t allow Russian planes to be stationed on its territory, Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said following earlier reports that Moscow had requested permission to access a provincial base in the archipelago.

Esther Lee and Yen Ne Foo