Russia, North Korea to hold second round of strategic dialogue
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit North Korea from 11th to 13th July, - Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced during ...
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on Southeast Asian nations to deepen regional cooperation and boost intra-regional trade as the world faces increasing economic uncertainty.
Speaking at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar warned against the growing use of tariffs, export controls, and investment barriers, describing them as tools of geopolitical rivalry though he avoided directly naming the United States.
"As external pressures intensify, it is essential that we strengthen our internal foundations", Anwar said. "We must trade more with each other, invest in one another, and push for deeper integration with determination".
His remarks come amid renewed concerns following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of new tariffs ranging from 25% to 40% on six ASEAN countries. Despite some members' attempts to negotiate reduced rates, only Vietnam has secured a partial reprieve, with its tariff reduced to 20% from an initial 46%. Other nations, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, are pursuing further negotiations ahead of the tariffs’ implementation on 1 August.
ASEAN, the world's fifth-largest economic bloc, continues to benefit from supply chain shifts away from China. However, the latest U.S. measures have heightened unease in the region. A draft joint communiqué seen by Reuters reveals that ASEAN ministers plan to voice concern over escalating global trade tensions and the use of unilateral tariff actions, warning such moves are counterproductive and may worsen global economic fragmentation.
ASEAN leaders have pledged not to retaliate and to ensure any bilateral agreements with the U.S. do not harm fellow member states.
OCBC Bank economist Lavanya Venkateswaran noted additional uncertainty around enforcement of tariffs targeting transshipments, particularly affecting countries such as Vietnam that play a key role in regional supply chains.
Complicating matters further, President Trump has also hinted at additional tariffs targeting members or partners of the BRICS group, Indonesia being a full member, and Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam listed as partners.
Alongside trade concerns, ASEAN ministers are expected to reaffirm support for a Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone treaty. The summit may also serve as a platform to ease recent tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, whose military standoff over a border dispute has added political strain. It's after Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended pending a court case over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, which critics say jeopardised Thailand's sovereignty.
The ASEAN gathering also faces unresolved regional challenges, including Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict and prolonged delays in finalising a code of conduct with China for the South China Sea.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan urged all parties in Myanmar to foster a climate suitable for holding elections, although it remains unclear whether Malaysia, as ASEAN's current chair, will support the vote, widely seen as a ploy to legitimise military rule amid the absence of real opposition.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged stronger sanctions and defence support for Ukraine as the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia nears approval.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,500-year-old city in northern Peru that likely served as a key trade hub connecting ancient coastal, Andean, and Amazonian cultures.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Shipments of antimony to the United States have jumped to more than 3,800 tonnes in five months via Thailand and Mexico, customs data show, as buyers find back-door routes around Beijing’s export ban on critical minerals bound for the U.S.
From launching 25% duties on Mexican goods in February to unveiling a 50% levy on imported copper on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump has fired off a rapid-fire series of tariff moves that has jolted financial markets and unsettled global supply chains.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit North Korea from 11th to 13th July, - Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced during a press briefing today.
Russia has confiscated 3.9 trillion roubles (about $50 billion) in company assets since 2022, signalling a decisive shift towards a 'fortress Russia' economic model, the Kommersant business daily reported on Wednesday.
A Ukrainian drone strike on a beach in the Russian city of Kursk has killed at least three people, including a member of Russia’s National Guard, and left seven others injured, regional authorities reported early Wednesday.
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