AGN Afternoon Update | 22 April 2025

Malaysia’s research rise | Russia-Ukraine peace signal | Japan confronts U.S. over tariffs

Malaysia
Malaysia recorded 267 sponsored clinical trials in 2024, bringing its total to over 2,500 since Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) was founded in 2012. Five First-in-Human studies were also completed, a new national record, all hosted at the Sarawak General Hospital. CRM aims to turn Malaysia into the region’s top clinical research hub through initiatives like the CRM Centre of Excellence and cross-ASEAN industry collaborations.

International
For the first time since early 2022, President Putin has shown interest in direct peace negotiations with Ukraine. He proposed halting attacks on civilian targets—a sentiment echoed by President Zelenskiy, who reiterated Kyiv’s commitment to ceasefire talks. Both leaders face pressure from Washington, with talks scheduled this week in London following a brief Easter truce.

Asia
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has criticized the U.S. for imposing 25% tariffs on Japanese car exports, breaching the spirit of a 2019 bilateral trade agreement. Although Japan was previously assured tariff exemptions under then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the new duties have reignited trade tensions. High-level talks in Washington this week will address currency concerns and market barriers.

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