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Morning Brief

Opinion and analysis of today’s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.

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All Episodes

8:33

The US Supreme Courts vs Trump's Tariffs

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/21

The US Supreme Court is expected to deliver its ruling on President Donald Trump’s tariffs only by Feb 20, leaving importers, markets, and international partners in suspense. Dr Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation, unpacks the impact on businesses and global commerce, as well as how the US and Europe are navigating a tense trade landscape.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee

en-US

12:38

FX Markets in A Whirlwind Over TACO Trade

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/21

Financial markets are currently navigating what has been dubbed the 'Greenland Tariff Gambit', a significant geopolitical shock triggered by President Trump’s threat to impose 10% tariffs on eight European nations. We ask Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC Bank what impact all these geopolitical risks have on the FX market.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

10:39

Malaysia's Climate Change Approach

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/21

Malaysia is tabling the National Climate Change Bill to give the federal government formal powers to regulate emissions and carbon markets. Climate change and sustainability expert Dr Renard Siew shares his insights into whether Malaysia’s emerging climate architecture can translate policy ambition into real-world outcomes.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

12:18

The Importance of a Freedom of Information Act.

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/21

The government will table a Freedom of Information Act with free access to request documents and other information from government agencies. So, why does freedom of information matter and how will the act be implemented at the federal level that satisfies international standards and not just be a token reform measure? Professor Dr Joanne Lim, Digital Media, Communications and Cultural Studies lecturer and Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia gives us her

en-US

10:58

Unpacking the National Education Plan 2026-2035

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/20

Malaysia has launched its National Education Plan 2026-2035, introducing earlier school entry, new centralised assessments and changes across the entire education pipeline. Danial Abdul Rahman, CEO of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute, joins us to unpack what these reforms could mean in classrooms and for the future generations of Malaysians.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

9:04

Inside Vietnam’s 14th Communist Party Congress

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/20

Vietnam’s 14th Communist Party Congress is ongoing in Hanoi and will determine the country’s leadership and policy direction for the next five years. Dr Nguyễn Khắc Giang, Visiting Fellow with the Vietnam Studies Programme at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, explains what’s at stake, and how Vietnam plans to manage growth ambitions amid rising geopolitical tensions.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

13:07

KL MPs

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/20

Kuala Lumpur MPs will now play a more significant role in the city’s administration, as Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh has announced the formation of five MP-led monitoring committees to oversee the DBKL 2026 Budget. We ask Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, MP for Setiawangsa as to how this plan will change the running of KL and also if there are any updates to his plan for a council-based governance model.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

11:22

What’s Next for China’s Retail Sector?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/20

China’s retail sector is showing signs of strain despite repeated stimulus measures. Catherine Lim, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence unpacks buyer fatigue, diverging spending trends between luxury and mass-market consumers, and what lies ahead for China’s household economy in 2026.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

10:10

Greenland: A Test For Transatlantic Ties

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/19

President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland "the easy way or the hard way" has triggered a transatlantic crisis. Dr Benjamin Barton, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, talks about the different scenarios that might unfold and what would happen in a post-Trump era for Europe.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

24:07

Board of Peace, A Trump Dream or Reality?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/19

Over the past week, US President Donald Trump has floated a proposal he calls a Board of Peace, a new international body linked to Gaza that would sit outside the United Nations framework. Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies tells us if this is a workable plan.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

11:17

China's 2025 Economic Growth Meets Target, What's Next?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/19

China closed 2025 meeting its headline GDP growth target of 5%, but beneath the surface the recovery looks uneven with the final quarter, expanding at its slowest pace since Covid. Heron Lim, a lecturer of economics at ESSEC Business School, shares his insights into these numbers and what to expect when China's National People’s Congress convenes in March.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

9:09

Rethinking Kuala Lumpur’s Public Spaces

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/19

The Federal Territories Ministry is partnering with Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia to redesign key urban infrastructure, encompassing public housing layouts and toilets to shower facilities aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles. Adrianta Aziz, the president of PAM, shares his insights into what this means for the future of KL.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

10:20

Malaysian Q4 GDP Outperformed

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/18

Malaysia wrapped up 2025 on a stronger footing than expected. Flash estimates show the economy growing 5.7% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, beating market expectations and bringing full-year growth to around 4.9%. Can this momentum be sustained, and what is our growth outlook in 2026? Questions we pose to Julia Goh, Senior Economist, UOBThis episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

10:28

Viewing Affordable Housing Through A Holistic Lens

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/18

Recently, the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) Institute announced that homeownership among Malaysia’s middle-income M40 group has fallen below that of the low-income B40 rate. Dr Consilz Tan, Research Fellow, Centre for Market Education & Senior Lecturer, Xiamen University Malaysia helps us make sense of the data and if there is any validity to claims that the drop is due to a housing model that depends on cross-subsidisation.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee

en-US

11:57

Can UMNO Lead a Grand Collabration for Malays?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/18

Umno’s General Assembly has wrapped, but the political signals are still unfolding. Tough rhetoric on the floor, cooperation at the top, delayed party elections and quiet symbolism around who appeared where all raise fresh questions about Umno’s direction as GE16 approaches. What really changed and what was just theatre? We’ll break it down with Dr. Azmil Mohd Tayeb, Political Scientist and Associate Professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

11:49

US-Taiwan Deal and Its Implications on Chips

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/18

Taiwan will invest $250 billion dollars in US semiconductor manufacturing under a new trade deal, as tariffs on its goods are cut from 20% to 15%. George Chen, Partner & Co-chair of the Digital Practice at The Asia Group gives us his insights on this and what it means for the wider semiconductor industry.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

13:23

Deferred Prosecution, Deferred Accountability?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/15

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is proposing a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) mechanism for certain corruption cases, to allow those accused to pause criminal proceedings while repaying misappropriated funds and potentially avoiding lengthy trials. Criminal lawyer Goh Cia Yee helps us unpack the proposal, and what it could mean for the fight against corruption.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

11:35

Trump's Greenland Ambitions: Why??

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/15

Greenland remains a fixation for President Donald Trump, who insists the United States needs the island for national security. A recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Denmark, Greenland and the US produced little sign of compromise. John Zogby, founder of Zogby Strategies, unpacks what this standoff reveals about shifting global politics.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

10:30

Is it Time for Black Gold to Shine?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/15

Oil markets have been navigating a complex mix of geopolitics, supply dynamics and demand uncertainty with prices weak in 2025. Is the outlook different in 2026 due to possible regime change in Iran and the removal of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Sim Moh Siong, Commodity Strategist, OCBC Bank gives us his views.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

11:26

Sanae Takachi Bets on a Snap Election

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/14

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve parliament next week, triggering a national election for all 465 seats, her first since taking office.The ruling party says details will be announced on Monday, with polling expected in February. The move comes as Japan enters a key policy period, with budget discussions underway and continued pressure on the yen. Markets have already begun reacting. To help us understand what’s unfolding and what to watch next, we speak to William Pesek,

en-US

5,607 results

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