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+2 sources·24 July 2026 · 19:06 UTCBreaking

US imposes 10% Section 301 tariff on Malaysia, among 17 economies, some goods exempted; Anwar 'relieved' by relatively low rate, continues talks

MITI stated that Malaysia's lower 10% tariff rate under Section 301 was based on its commitments to enforce forced labor laws, with Minister Johari Abdul Ghani leading negotiations. Exempted products include oil palm, cut flowers, orchids, and meranti wood, while an ongoing Section 301 probe into excess capacity also involves Malaysia, and the country is eligible for a tariff-rate quota on US cotton and textile products.

+2 sources·24 July 2026 · 12:20 UTC

Asian stocks slide as Trump hits more than 80 countries with new tariffs; Analysts call Forced labour rationale a 'convenient' way to rebuild tariff wall

China warned that 'tariff wars and trade wars are not in the interests of any party' and opposed all unilateral tariff measures. Separately, Bank of France governor Emmanuel Moulin said the new tariffs create 'more uncertainty for world trade' and are not favourable for economic growth.

·24 July 2026 · 10:38 UTC

Chinese ship shoots water cannon at Philippine vessel with CNN crew on board near flashpoint shoal

A China Coast Guard vessel came within seven meters of the Philippine ship, posing a 'serious risk of collision,' and warned via megaphone to leave immediately. The Philippine mission was later canceled due a developing typhoon, though Chinese ships continued shadowing.

·24 July 2026 · 04:42 UTC

Trump upended the newly signed Saudi nuclear deal less than 24 hours after its signing

Trump imposed a last-minute condition requiring Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, a move that blindsided his own nuclear negotiators and the Saudis who considered the deal a major triumph. The upending came after a flurry of criticism from Fox News and the Wall Street Journal editorial page, which questioned why the deal was made without a normalization agreement.

+1 source·24 July 2026 · 00:43 UTC

Singapore's GIC eyes more investments in companies leveraging AI; 20-year annualised real return falls to 3.4%, lowest in 6 years

GIC CEO Lim Chow Kiat said winners will be those who can 'successfully transform themselves' by leveraging AI, as the sovereign wealth fund plans to deploy an additional US$30 billion into hedge funds over three years. GIC also refreshed its investment framework to be more flexible amid what it called a 'fundamentally changed' world.

·24 July 2026 · 00:18 UTC

Six IPOs listed on the Singapore Exchange this year mostly trade below issue price; a setback for market reform hopes

Assistant Professor Goh Jing Rong said a few lacklustre IPOs hurt sentiment but the reforms are structural and will take time, and the better test is attracting quality issuers. Separately, a Deloitte report noted Singapore overtook Indonesia in regional IPO rankings for the first half of the year, signalling growing investor confidence.

+1 source·23 July 2026 · 15:54 UTC

72-year-old man arrested in police raid on mainland dental center in Hong Kong over suspected illegal dental practice

During the raid, authorities seized equipment including a suspected intraoral scanner, dental chair, and various dental tools as evidence. The Hong Kong Dental Association had sent mystery shoppers to consultation centers earlier this month, discovering uncertified staff in doctors' coats falsely claiming to be dentists and using intraoral endoscopes to diagnose patients.

+1 source·23 July 2026 · 12:55 UTC

Ex-Hong Kong opposition leader Wu Chi-wai enters UK under temporary admission after reported denial; deportation threat remains pending

Hong Kong Watch expressed deep concern over the deportation threat facing Wu, a political prisoner among the Hong Kong 47. The Home Office described the initial refusal as an administrative paperwork issue, while Wu remains in the UK under temporary admission with a pending deportation review.

+1 source·23 July 2026 · 12:55 UTC

Malaysia’s Anwar rejects ‘totally absurd’ US military aid threat; US don defends country’s Israel stance as principled against genocide

Eight US lawmakers accused Anwar of singling out Israelis solely because of their nationality in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Anwar countered that Malaysia’s decades-old policy is a sovereign decision, not antisemitic, but a stance against Israeli complicity in Palestinian oppression.

+1 source·23 July 2026 · 12:55 UTC

Houthis claim strikes on Saudi oil tankers as Rubio says Iran not ready to make a deal; Iran says it stopped three tankers at Hormuz

The Houthis said they targeted the Saudi tankers Encelia and Layla, resulting in a fire on one vessel but no casualties. Oil prices surged over 5% as Brent crude topped $99 per barrel, and Trump threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for each ship Iran attacks.

·23 July 2026 · 07:26 UTC

The prices of Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude oil rise to a six-week high amid escalating US-Iran tensions

Brent crude futures hit $96 per barrel, the highest since June 8, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose to $88.27. The US military launched a 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz is under their control and "completely closed".

+3 sources5 updates

24 July 2026 · 06:08 UTCGlobal oil prices exceed $100 per barrel as Middle East crisis enters dangerous new phase, breaking market constraints; supply fears fuel weekly gain 24 July 2026 · 00:43 UTCBrent crude oil prices reach $100 a barrel; overseas buyers in hot pursuit of US crude amid escalating wars +2 more reports

·23 July 2026 · 06:35 UTC

PM Wong reshuffles cabinet, appoints Jasmin Lau, Jeffrey Siow, Sim Ann, David Neo; signals focus on building Singapore's next generation of leaders

PM Wong promoted all but one of the first-time parliamentarians in his reshuffle, including Jeffrey Siow, David Neo, and Goh Pei Ming, who were newly elected in the 2025 General Election. Additionally, first-year backbenchers Foo Cexiang and Shawn Loh were drafted in as ministers of state to fill gaps from recent resignations.

+1 source·23 July 2026 · 03:22 UTC

Oil climbs after Houthis attack two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea

Brent crude advanced 2.5% to trade near $96 a barrel, its highest since June, while the US House passed a $1.15 trillion defense bill. The Houthis said they struck the tankers Encelia and Layla with cruise missiles and drones, causing explosions.