Top 5 at 5: Trump-Xi Trade War Redux

President Trump has hinted at a possible meeting with President Xi Jinping amid escalating US-China trade tensions. With tariffs, investigations, and countermeasures piling up, China is turning to back-channel diplomacy to avoid further economic fallout. Economist Woo Wing Thye joins us to discuss whether Beijing’s approach can defuse the situation.

Other stories we covered:

• Forest City’s mega rail plan: Forest City is expanding its transportation network with upgraded bus routes and plans for rail connectivity, including links to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. With major projects like the RTS Link set for completion next year, can these efforts cement Johor’s position as a regional transit hub? Transport consultant Rosli Azad Khan weighs in.
• Ban dating apps to save the kids? A consumer group is calling for a ban on dating apps after over 600 sexual crimes last year involved social media platforms. But is blocking apps an effective long-term solution? We ask Benjamin Loh, Course Director for Digital Media and Communication at Monash University.
• When your kidneys costs you your job: Nearly half of chronic kidney disease patients in Malaysia have lost their jobs due to declining health, with most affected individuals from the B40 income group. With treatment costs reaching RM40,000 annually, how can policies better support these patients? We speak to Dr Lydia Kamaruzaman, clinical nephrologist and researcher at UKM.
• Capping the PM’s time in power: DAP’s proposal to cap the Prime Minister’s tenure at ten years has sparked fierce debate, with Anwar Ibrahim backing the move while PAS leaders claim it contradicts Islamic governance. Would a term limit strengthen democracy, or is it just political maneuvering? We discuss.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Presenter: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan

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