Top 5 at 5: Trump’s Trade War Begins

President Trump has imposed steep new tariffs—25% on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on Chinese goods—igniting fresh trade tensions. As global markets brace for impact, Arividya Arimuthu, Senior Fellow at ISIS Malaysia, unpacks what this means for the economy and whether the world is prepared.

• The Hague Group unites against Israel's war on Palestinians: A new international alliance brings nine Global South nations, including Malaysia, together to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Palestine. We turn to James Dorsey, a Senior Fellow at RSIS, for his thoughts on what this coalition hopes to achieve.

• Trump’s aid freeze hits Malaysian wildlife conservation: The 90-day freeze on US foreign aid isn’t just affecting humanitarian efforts, it’s crippling conservation work in Malaysia too. Nor Arlina Amirah Ahmad Ghani, co-founder of Justice for Wildlife Malaysia, shares how the funding cut has disrupted ranger training and wildlife protection programs.

• Malaysia’s minimum wage rises to RM1,700: The new minimum wage of RM1,700 took effect last Friday, benefiting 4.37 million workers but posing challenges for businesses. Calvin Cheng, a Fellow at ISIS Malaysia, breaks down the economic impact and what this means for employers and workers alike.

• Carcosa Seri Negara to Reopen: After six years of closure, the government is set to reopen one of the mansions of the iconic colonial building, the Carcosa Seri Negara. Heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa discusses why preserving these national landmarks matters and what the revival could mean for Malaysia’s historical identity.

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

Presenter: Sharaad Kuttan

Producer: Dashran Yohan, Sudais Ferhard, Alia Zefri, Sneha Harikannan

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