News@9: Today's top headlines - July 31, 2025 [WATCH]
Trump Asean visit
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirms US President Donald Trump will attend the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
Malaysia eyes AI
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the government aims to make Malaysia a regional hub for digital innovation and "Made by Malaysia" technology by 2030.
New EPF pension
The government is considering a monthly pension scheme under the Employees Provident Fund to provide retirees with steady post‑retirement income.
Hoarder home cleared
Authorities in Johor Baru have removed 32 tonnes of rubbish from the home of a retired teacher after 30 years of hoarding junk, foul smells and pests.
That's all for News@9.
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The Sun
12 minutes ago
- The Sun
Sultan Ibrahim makes historic state visit to Russia in 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, will make history as the first Malaysian Head of State to conduct an official visit to Russia from August 5 to 10, 2025. The visit comes at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Istana Negara confirmed the visit in a statement, highlighting its significance in reinforcing diplomatic relations established in 1967. 'This visit also reflects the important role of the Malaysian monarchy in advancing the nation's diplomacy,' the statement said. The trip aims to expand cooperation in trade, higher education, technology, and innovation while fostering stronger people-to-people ties. As ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia will also leverage the visit to enhance strategic cooperation with Russia, an ASEAN Dialogue Partner since 1996. In Moscow, Sultan Ibrahim will receive a state welcome ceremony at the Kremlin, followed by an official meeting with Putin. A state banquet hosted by the Russian President will also take place. His Majesty's itinerary includes visits to the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute (NAMI) and the Tochka Kipeniya Technology and Innovation Hub. The King will then proceed to Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan, a Muslim-majority autonomous region of Russia. There, he will meet with Rais Rustam Minnikhanov and tour a helicopter manufacturing facility. - Bernama
New Straits Times
42 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
US, NATO developing novel funding mechanism for Ukraine weapons transfers
WASHINGTON: The United States and NATO are working on a novel approach to supply Ukraine with weapons using funds from Nato countries to pay for the purchase or transfer of US arms, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The renewed transatlantic cooperation on Ukraine comes as US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Moscow's ongoing attacks on its neighbor. Trump, who initially took a more conciliatory tone toward Russia as he tried to end the more than three-year war in Ukraine, has threatened to start imposing tariffs and other measures if Moscow shows no progress toward ending the conflict by Aug 8. The president said last month the US would supply weapons to Ukraine, paid for by European allies, but did not indicate how this would be done. Nato countries, Ukraine, and the United States are developing a new mechanism that will focus on getting US weapons to Ukraine from the Priority Ukraine Requirements List, known under the acronym PURL, the sources said. Ukraine would prioritise the weapons it needs in tranches of roughly $500 million, and Nato allies — coordinated by Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte — would then negotiate among themselves who would donate or pay for items on the list. Through this approach, Nato allies hope to provide $10 billion in arms for Ukraine, said a European official, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was unclear over what timeframe they hope to supply the arms. "That is the starting point, and it's an ambitious target that we're working towards. We're currently on that trajectory. We support the ambition. We need that sort of volume," the European official said. Nato declined to comment. The White House, Pentagon, and Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Russian forces are gradually advancing against Ukraine, and control one-fifth of Ukraine's territory. FASTER ARMS RESTOCKING If a Nato country decides to donate weapons to Ukraine, the mechanism would allow that country to effectively bypass lengthy US arms sales procedures to replenish its own stocks, said one US official, speaking on condition of anonymity. But the Nato country would have to pay the US up front for the speedier replenishment. The money would be paid into a US-held account, possibly at the US Treasury Department, or to an escrow fund, although the exact structure remains unclear, the official said. Nato countries also have the option of simply paying the United States to send weapons directly to Ukraine. In that case, the payment could be made via Nato or directly to the US Department of Defense, said a second source, speaking on condition of anonymity. This would be in addition to the United States' own effort to identify arms from US stockpiles to send to Ukraine under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the US president to draw from current weapons stocks to help allies in an emergency. At least one tranche of weapons for Ukraine is currently being negotiated under the new mechanism, two sources said, though it was unclear if any money has yet been transferred. Trump's fellow Republicans in Congress have introduced legislation, known as the Peace Act, that aims to create a fund at the US Treasury in which allies can deposit money that would pay to replenish US military equipment donated to Ukraine. Ukraine's needs remain consistent with previous months — air defenses, interceptors, systems, rockets, and artillery.
The Star
42 minutes ago
- The Star
The King to make historic state visit to Russia, says Istana Negara
KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, will undertake a state visit to Russia from Aug 5 to 10, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. In a statement on Saturday (Aug 2), Istana Negara announced that His Majesty will make history as the first Malaysian Head of State to conduct a state visit to Russia since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1967. "This visit also reflects the important role of the Malaysian monarchy in advancing the nation's diplomacy," it said. Istana Negara added that the visit will not only strengthen existing bilateral relations but also open new avenues for cooperation in various fields, including trade, higher education, technology, innovation, and people-to-people ties. As Asean Chair in 2025, Malaysia will also play a major role in enhancing strategic cooperation, particularly in the context of Russia's status as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner since 1996, it added. While in Moscow, Istana Negara said His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim will be accorded a state welcome ceremony at the Kremlin by President Vladimir Putin, followed by an official meeting between the two Heads of State. "His Majesty will also attend a state banquet hosted by the President of the Russian Federation," Istana Negara said. His Majesty is then scheduled to visit the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute (NAMI) as well as the Tochka Kipeniya Technology and Innovation Hub. After concluding his programme in Moscow, His Majesty will travel to Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan on Aug 8. Tatarstan is one of Russia's autonomous republics, with a Muslim-majority population. In Kazan, Istana Negara said His Majesty will be granted an audience with the Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, and will tour a helicopter manufacturing and assembly facility. - Bernama
