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Trump Embarks on High-Stakes Asia Tour Amid Trade Tensions and Peace Talks
US President Donald Trump departed Washington on Friday night for a weeklong trip across Asia that will take him to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea — a visit aimed at boosting investment ties, advancing regional peace efforts, and holding a much-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“This is a very important trip,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One. “We have a lot to talk about with President Xi, and he has a lot to talk about with us. I think we’ll have a good meeting.”
Trump’s first stop is Malaysia, where he will attend the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur — his first appearance at the regional gathering in years. The summit comes amid renewed efforts by Malaysia to mediate tensions between Thailand and Cambodia following recent border skirmishes.
On Sunday, Trump is scheduled to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for bilateral talks, followed by a joint signing ceremony with the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia to formalize an expanded ceasefire. Earlier this year, Trump threatened to suspend trade deals with both countries if the conflict continued, crediting Ibrahim for “working tirelessly to restore stability.”
Trump is also expected to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva while in Malaysia, though the White House has not confirmed the meeting. Lula has been pressing Washington to lift a 40% tariff on Brazilian exports and has criticized recent US naval operations near South America.
After Malaysia, Trump will travel to Japan and South Korea for high-level meetings centered on trade and investment. In Tokyo, he is expected to discuss a $900 billion package of Japanese and South Korean investments in US manufacturing and infrastructure — part of a deal to reduce tariffs on imports from both nations.
The visit to Japan will also mark Trump’s first meeting with newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female leader and a protégé of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with whom Trump had a close relationship. He will also meet Emperor Naruhito and visit US troops stationed in Japan.
The centerpiece of Trump’s tour, however, will likely be his meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to ease a prolonged trade war that has unsettled global markets.
Trump has recently accused Beijing of unfair trade practices and retaliatory tariffs, but struck an optimistic tone this week, saying he hoped to reach a “fantastic deal” with Xi. He also hinted that he would raise the case of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai during the talks.
Speculation remains about a possible surprise encounter with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Trump’s stop in South Korea, though US officials have denied such a meeting is planned.
“They have a lot of nuclear weapons,” Trump joked, “but not a lot of telephone service.”
The trip is seen as a key test of Trump’s ability to balance diplomacy, trade, and security in a region that remains critical to US strategic interests.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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