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US President Donald Trump during his Oval Office news briefing on Monday at which he crudely dismissed China’s negotiations with Vietnam. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China trade war

Trump says China’s talks with Vietnam are probably intended to ‘screw’ US

Crude remark comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping begins tour of three Southeast Asian nations targeted for high tariffs on exports to US.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s Bali raises alarm over rise in sham marriages to evade legal curbs

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Malaysia

Former Malaysian PM Abdullah, who extended political freedoms, dies at 85

Indonesia

Indonesia’s Prabowo opens up but did interview help boost transparency?

Prabowo clarifies that recent reforms are misunderstood and promises greater communication but analysts say his responses are ‘misleading’.

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Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto speaks during an economic event in Jakarta on April 8. Prabowo engaged the media in a round-table session held at his private residence on April 6. Photo: AFP
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto speaks during an economic event in Jakarta on April 8. Prabowo engaged the media in a round-table session held at his private residence on April 6. Photo: AFP
Vietnam

Vietnam thrived under first US-China trade war, now it’s ‘no longer an option’

Vietnam’s manufacturing boom faces a setback as Trump’s new tariffs threaten its export competitiveness.

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Malaysia

Malaysia to host China’s Xi as Asean seeks shelter from Trump tariff storm

Xi’s three-day visit to Malaysia will give local firms the chance to look for better access to China to offset potential tariff pain, analysts say.

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Indonesia

How far should Indonesia go to appease Trump on tariffs?

Jakarta is weighing trade concessions, but analysts warn the cost may be long-term harm to local industries.

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Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto gestures as he delivers a speech during an economic gathering on “Strengthening the Resilience of the National Economy” in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 8. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto gestures as he delivers a speech during an economic gathering on “Strengthening the Resilience of the National Economy” in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 8. Photo: Reuters
Singapore

Ong Beng Seng to step down from Singapore property firm amid Iswaran scandal

The man who brought Formula One to Singapore is leaving his property firm, with a guilty plea pending in a prominent corruption scandal.

US-China trade war

Trump’s tariff exemption for tech, Asia’s best restaurant: 5 weekend reads

From a possible meeting between Xi, Kim and Putin to a flavour face-off in Singapore, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Singapore

Singapore braces for US-China trade war fallout with growth outlook downgrade

Is zero growth on the horizon? Singapore now fears its trade-reliant economy might flatline amid US tariffs and the trade war.

High-rise buildings are seen in Singapore’s financial district. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippines election hopeful’s LGBTQ woes spark debate on voter focus

Opposition voters are divided over ex-state auditor Heidi Mendoza’s conservative stance on same-sex marriage.

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Heidi Mendoza. Photo: Facebook/heidi.mendoza.31586
Heidi Mendoza. Photo: Facebook/heidi.mendoza.31586
Malaysia

Iran’s meth cartels target Australia via Malaysia’s Port Klang

Experts say crime syndicates from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan are using Malaysia as a transshipment hub for drugs destined for Australia.

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Myanmar

‘Heavy heart’: Myanmar quake survivors mark ‘Thingyan’ new year amid ruins

Two weeks after the disaster which killed over 3,600, the ruling junta has commanded the usually raucous festival to have no music or dancing.

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Cambodia

Desperate measures: can Cambodia’s tariff trim save it from Trump’s trade axe?

Phnom Penh has offered to slash import taxes, but analysts warn it could still miss the mark with a transactional Trump administration.

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has offered to reduce tariffs on 19 American product categories from 35 to 5 per cent. Photo: EPA-EFE
Singapore

Singapore’s flavour face-off: mainland Chinese cuisine vs local food culture

The rise of Chinese food brands in Singapore and their impact on local cuisine has sparked debates on cultural preservation and coexistence.

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Chinatown Food Street in Singapore. Many Chinese food and drink operators see Singapore as a useful testing ground. Photo: Shutterstock
Chinatown Food Street in Singapore. Many Chinese food and drink operators see Singapore as a useful testing ground. Photo: Shutterstock
Vietnam

What South Korea’s Samsung and Vietnam stand to lose in Trump’s tariff war

Samsung’s reliance on Vietnam will make it a primary victim should higher US tariffs take effect later this year, observers say.

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Malaysia

Will Malaysia’s car industry face a Trump-tariff price war from Chinese EVs?

Chinese EV makers, facing US tariffs, are targeting Southeast Asia, threatening Malaysia’s auto industry with steep discounts and potential job losses.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s Prabowo: Gaza violence undermines world’s rules-based system

Indonesian president says violence and unilateral decisions by the West are only leading the world towards unrest with little say for emerging nations.

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto takes part in a panel discussion during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday. Photo: Handout
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto takes part in a panel discussion during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday. Photo: Handout
Indonesia

Rich Indonesians concerned about Prabowo’s policies send wealth overseas

The shift began in October when Prabowo came to power but accelerated substantially after the rupiah plunged in March, people have said.

US-Asean relations

Asean’s ‘illusion of solidarity’ splinters amid Trump’s tariff threats

While Malaysia calls for a united front, the reality is a race for bilateral deals, with Vietnam leading the charge – as China watches on.

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Malaysia

Are Malaysia’s whistle-blower laws protecting the wrong people?

A businessman who exposed alleged corruption is now facing scrutiny himself, raising questions about Malaysia’s anti-graft legal framework.

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The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building in Putrajaya. Photo: EPA-EFE
The Philippines

Philippines denies health scare after Marcos appears to bleed from gums in video

Speculation about the president’s health was fuelled by footage of Marcos speaking with what looked like blood in his mouth during a speech.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr speaks at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 9. Photo: RTVM
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr speaks at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 9. Photo: RTVM
United States

Tariffs impact on developing nations may be worse than foreign aid cuts: UN

Tariffs on imports to the US mean developing economies risk sliding back on gains made in recent years, says the United Nations’ trade agency.

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South China Sea

Philippines completes South China Sea resupply run without a hitch

Seventh trouble-free mission to disputed Second Thomas Shoal could be due to the July 2024 arrangement between both sides, analysts note.

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Singapore

Singapore eatery removes notices imposing ‘104% surcharge’ on Americans

Many social media users condemned Xie Lao Song’s move as discriminatory, while others questioned whether local law prohibits such practices.

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Singapore’s Chinatown. A restaurant in the area has removed signs imposing a “104 per cent surcharge” on American customers. Photo: AFP
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