As U.S.-China trade tensions escalate, tariffs now reach as high as 145% on Chinese goods and 125% on American exports, with neither side showing signs of backing down. Economist Khor Yu Leng from Segi Enam Advisers unpacks Beijing's strategic maneuvers, highlighting domestic economic pressures, retaliatory measures, and the long-term impact on Chinese consumers.

Other stories we covered:

• The battle for Ayer Kuning: The Ayer Kuning by-election kicks off tomorrow, following the passing of incumbent Ishsam Shahruddin. With a multiethnic electorate, the contest sees Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia vying for the seat. Ben Suffian, director of Merdeka Centre, weighs in on the political stakes and the significance of this litmus test for Umno and PAS.

• Emergency specialists in every hospital by 2028: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced plans to deploy at least two emergency specialists in all hospitals by 2028, aiming to improve local treatment accessibility. Datuk Dr Alzamani Mohammad Idrose, President of the College of Emergency Physicians, discusses the feasibility of this ambitious timeline and solutions to address the specialist shortage.

• The "return" of the dire wolf: Colossal Biosciences has engineered grey wolves with genetic traits of the extinct dire wolf, creating three pups named Remus, Romulus, and Khaleesi. Dr Wan Nor Fitri Wan Jaafar, a researcher in therio-genology from Universiti Putra Malaysia, explains the science and potential of using such technologies for endangered species, amid ethical concerns surrounding cloning and de-extinction efforts.

• Oscars to honour stunt design: The Academy Awards will introduce a category for Best Stunt Design, acknowledging stunt teams as artists after decades of campaigning, notably by director David Leitch. With pioneers like Yakima Ka-nut and Hal Needham setting the stage, questions remain on how the award will credit performers and impact the future of stunt work. We get into it.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sudais Ferhard, Alia Zefri, Sneha Harikannan, Tee Shiao Eek

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Dashran Yohan

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Categories:  economy,  politics,  government,  health policy,  film

Tags:  us-china trade war,  us-china,  tariffs,  donald trump,  ayer kuning,