Today's top Malaysian news, sport and lifestyle.
The EU and GCC have jointly declared that no state may unilaterally claim sovereignty or control over the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming international shipping rights and condemning Iranian attacks on vessels.
Three Gulf states activated emergency protocols Friday after hostile missile and drone strikes. Kuwait's air defences responded to attacks as regional tensions spike over shipping lanes and US military presence.
Oil prices jumped Friday as US-Iran hostilities intensified and Tehran signalled the Houthi movement to prepare for blocking the Red Sea, threatening global energy supplies and keeping geopolitical premiums embedded in crude benchmarks.
Over 100 Democratic representatives in the US House voted to end billions in annual military aid to Israel, nearly tripling support from a similar vote two years prior and exposing deepening rifts within the party.
US Democratic senators are pressing the Trump administration to release military investigation findings on a February 28 airstrike targeting a girls' school in Iran within seven days.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has pushed back against US President Donald Trump's plan to impose a 20% toll on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, insisting Tehran will remain the waterway's permanent guardian.
Malaysia's Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir arrived in Doha to represent the government at the state funeral of Qatar's former leader Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away aged 74.
South Korea's stock exchange activated a circuit breaker for the KOSPI benchmark index after shares plummeted more than 8% amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
Iran has rejected US President Trump's proposal for peace negotiations, insisting Washington must first meet Tehran's preconditions on maritime transit and oil sales. Fresh threats of military action have intensified regional instability.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of catastrophic consequences from escalating military tensions in the Gulf, urging Iran and the United States to resume negotiations and exercise restraint.
France is considering Syria as a potential alternative oil transit route to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, where US-Iran tensions threaten global energy supplies. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot highlighted Syria's repositioning as a regional hub.
Israeli authorities arrested four settlers on Saturday in connection with an alleged assault on a CNN news crew operating in the occupied West Bank, marking another flashpoint involving international media coverage.
The UAE intercepted Iranian missiles and drones early Sunday, while Qatar and Bahrain issued urgent safety warnings to residents. Iran's IRGC claimed targeting a US base in Jordan in a major escalation of regional hostilities.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has conveyed Malaysia's condolences to Qatar after the death of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away at 74.
Egypt is advancing construction of its maiden nuclear power station in El Dabaa, with the first of four reactors expected to supply electricity to the national grid by 2028. The Russian-backed project forms part of Cairo's strategy to diversify energy sources.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem narrowly escaped death when Israeli forces targeted his vehicle in Gaza, killing his bodyguard instead. The incident occurred amid escalating violence and alleged ceasefire violations.
Iran's Health Ministry reports 14 deaths and 78 injuries from US military operations across five provinces on July 8-9, 2026, occurring amid an active ceasefire arrangement.
Bahrain has not drawn on a $5.3 billion currency swap with the UAE despite economic pressure from the Iran conflict, while simultaneously negotiating to restore its cancelled Formula One Grand Prix to the 2024 calendar.
Temasek, Singapore's major state investment company, achieved a record net portfolio value of S$518 billion, up S$49 billion year-on-year. The fund delivered a 20-year shareholder return of 6.8 per cent while strategically expanding into Middle Eastern markets.
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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with the UAE, pledging to explore new areas of strategic cooperation including artificial intelligence and defence.
Two improvised explosive devices detonated near French President Emmanuel Macron's hotel in Damascus on Tuesday, injuring at least 18 people. Macron, the first EU leader to visit Syria since 2010, remained unharmed at the presidential palace during bilateral talks.
A Palestinian government weekly report estimates Israeli military operations have destroyed more than 90% of Gaza Strip infrastructure, with occupation forces controlling approximately 80% of the war-affected territory.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu will represent Malaysia at the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
The UK and France have announced readiness to deploy a multinational military mission to safeguard shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade route. The move comes despite repeated Iranian warnings against foreign military involvement in the strategic waterway.
Iran held a major state funeral ceremony for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, drawing senior officials from Pakistan, Armenia, Georgia, Iraq, and other nations. His son Mojtaba has assumed the leadership role.
Malaysia has pledged US$1 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, with annual disbursements of US$200,000 from 2026 to 2030, reaffirming the country's commitment to humanitarian assistance.
The Palestinian government has documented systematic human rights abuses against detainees in Israeli prisons, claiming over 3,376 Palestinians are held without trial, along with 360 children and three pregnant women.
A Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed at Ras Tanura on Saudi Arabia's eastern coast, killing all 14 people aboard. The aircraft went down early Sunday morning in an incident that has prompted a full official investigation.
Iraqi security forces conducted extensive raids across Baghdad's fortified Green Zone early Sunday, detaining multiple officials and MPs suspected of corruption in a significant anti-graft operation.
Iraqi authorities arrested 47 officials including members of parliament on Sunday in a significant anti-corruption sweep, underscoring Baghdad's intensified efforts against systemic graft that has long plagued the country's institutions.
France and Italy have pledged to establish a multinational coalition to stabilize Lebanon following the departure of United Nations peacekeepers in December, aiming to prevent regional escalation and shore up Lebanese institutions.
Japan has pledged US$15 million in emergency humanitarian aid for West Asia, with the bulk directed to Iran, alongside support for Lebanon and Palestinians in the West Bank.
Iran has rejected International Atomic Energy Agency inspections at its nuclear sites, insisting that access questions will only be resolved through a final agreement with the United States following recent peace negotiations.
Iraq's Oil Ministry has rejected claims it threatens to leave OPEC, reaffirming its commitment to the cartel. Instead, Baghdad is pressing for a reassessment of production quotas to match its actual pumping capacity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has completed his testimony in multiple corruption trials, according to the justice ministry. The milestone comes as he navigates mounting regional concerns over US-Iran diplomatic developments.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the United States and Iran will engage in technical-level negotiations over the next 60 days to discuss nuclear matters, ballistic missiles, and frozen Iranian assets, building on their recent Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf led a delegation out of Switzerland following marathon negotiations with the United States, with mediators reporting constructive progress and agreement on a structured pathway forward.
Hizbollah has firmly rejected proposals for an Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon, directly challenging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to maintaining military presence in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged that Israeli military forces will remain stationed in southern Lebanon indefinitely, while reaffirming Israel's resolve to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Switzerland to engage in technical-level discussions between the United States and Iran seeking to de-escalate Middle East conflicts.
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Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated Tehran may be prepared to formally commit in writing to abandoning nuclear weapons development, signalling flexibility as nuclear negotiations with the United States advance.
A US-Iran peace agreement memorandum could benefit global oil prices, according to Malaysia's Political Secretary to the Finance Minister, though stabilisation will require months as supply chains normalise.
An interim US-Iran ceasefire agreement has reopened the Strait of Hormuz and triggered a sharp decline in global oil prices. However, unresolved nuclear negotiations and continued fighting in Lebanon cast doubt on the deal's durability.
Iran and the United States have formally completed a 14-point memorandum of understanding designed to resolve their conflict, with both presidents signing the agreement. Negotiations will concentrate on nuclear matters and sanctions relief.