'From the river to the sea'
He was being prodded by the media about Nick Adams - a pro-Israel Australian-American influencer - being nominated by US President Donald Trump as the country's next ambassador to Malaysia.
Fahmi, who is the communications minister, initially played coy...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysia Sun
6 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
EU suspends retaliation as Trump's tariff deadline looms
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union has delayed retaliatory tariffs on American goods in a final push to reach a trade agreement with the Trump administration before an August 1 deadline, EU officials confirmed. The bloc had been set to impose countermeasures at midnight Brussels time on Monday, but opted to suspend them after President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs to 30 percent on imports from the EU and Mexico starting next month. "This is now the time for negotiations," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "We have always been clear that we prefer a negotiated solution." She added that if talks fail, the EU would still be "fully prepared" to implement its planned countermeasures. Trump's letter to EU officials, which cited the U.S. trade deficit as a national security threat, has added urgency to talks. The EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 member states and is the U.S.'s largest trading partner. Europe's biggest exports to the U.S. include cars, pharmaceuticals, aircraft, chemicals, and wine. Any tariffs on these products could affect companies across both continents and create ripple effects throughout the global economy. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is expected in Washington on Monday for meetings with U.S. officials and members of Congress. Tajani's office said he emphasised the need to "negotiate with one's head held high" in recent conversations with EU allies. Trump adviser Kevin Hassett said the president was dissatisfied with current trade drafts and wanted "better" deals. "To basically put a line in the sand, he sent these letters out," Hassett told ABC News. EU trade ministers will meet on Monday to coordinate their approach. Von der Leyen also cited the need to diversify trade partners, announcing closer ties with Indonesia during a press conference in Brussels.
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Ukraine covers frontline roads with anti-drone nets
A ravaged car with its engine destroyed and doors riddled with shrapnel lay on the side of the road near Dobropillia, a sleepy town not far from the front line in eastern Ukraine. Hit by a small, remote-controlled drone, the mangled chassis was a stark reminder of why Ukraine is hurrying to mount netting over supply routes behind the sprawling front line to thwart Russian aerial attacks. As Russia's invasion grinds through its fourth year, Moscow and Kyiv are both menacing each other's armies with swarms of cheap drones, easily found on the market and rigged with deadly explosives. AFP reporters saw Ukrainian soldiers installing green nets on four-metre (13-foot) poles spanning kilometres (miles) of road in the eastern Donetsk region, where some of the war's most intense fighting has taken place. "When a drone hits the net, it short-circuits and it cannot target vehicles," said 27-year-old engineering brigade commander Denis, working under the blazing sun. "We are shifting into a so-called drone war," Denis told AFP. FPV (first-person view) drones have already seriously wounded a few of his men. Some are armed with shotguns to shoot them down. The Russian army has also been deploying nets. "We weave nets like spiders! For extremely dangerous birds without feathers," the Russian defence ministry quoted a soldier with the call sign "Ares" as saying in April. An earlier article by pro-Kremlin media outlet Izvestia also showed soldiers mounting netting close to the front. Drones are also a worry for towns and cities. Since early July, the town of Dobropillia, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the front line, has become a target for Russian FPV drone attacks. During a recent visit to the civilian hub – where some 28,000 people lived before the war – AFP journalists saw residents on the streets rush for cover in shops when a drone began buzzing overhead. When the high-pitched whirring had died down and the threat disappeared, one woman exiting a shelter picked up her shopping bags and glanced upwards, returning to her routine. Every day, victims come to the small town's hospital. According to the hospital's director, Vadym Babkov, the enemy FPVs "spare neither medical workers nor civilians." As the roads "are not yet 100-percent covered" by nets, his ambulances have to take long detours, reducing the patients' chances of survival, the 60-year-old said. "We are all under threat," Babkov added. In Russia's Belgorod border region, which frequently comes under Ukrainian fire, authorities have retrofitted ambulances with metal anti-drone cages – a technology once reserved for tanks and personnel carrier vehicles. "Civilians have got used to it," Denis told AFP. Olga, a waitress in a small cafe and mini-market in Dobropillia, has devised her own way to cope with the constant drone threat. "When I drive and feel that a drone is going to attack me, I open all the windows to avoid glass shards hitting me," the 45-year-old told AFP. The atmosphere in the town had become "frightening", Olga said. The shop next to Olga's was recently hit by an FPV drone, leaving its owner in a coma. "Now we jump at every gust of wind," Olga said. "The day has passed – thank God. The night has passed and we wake up with all our arms and legs intact – thank God." Despite the roads constantly coming under attack, Olga still receives products to sell in her small cafe, since suppliers take detours along routes away from the front. But she doesn't know for how long. "Everything hangs in the air now," she said. We're living day by day."
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Communication practitioners vital for humanising challenges says Fahmi
PETALING JAYA: Communication practitioners play a crucial role in humanising complex challenges within today's fast-evolving communication landscape, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Speaking in a recorded address for World Public Relations Day (WPRD) 2025, he emphasised the need for communicators to engage audiences without deepening divisions. 'Polarisation isn't always negative. It reflects a vibrant, diverse society, but when left unchecked, it can fragment communities. That's where we, as communicators, come in to mediate, contextualise and above all, humanise,' he said. The event, held at SEGi University, was attended by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, PRactitioners Malaysia chairman Datuk P. Kamalanathan, and SEGi University managing director Stella Lau. Fahmi also praised efforts to nurture young communicators with strong ethical foundations and strategic foresight. 'To everyone turning tension into dialogue, and differences into understanding, I salute you. Societies like PRactitioners Malaysia are playing a crucial role in this journey,' he added. Johari Abdul, who officiated the event, urged PR professionals to prioritise truth over trends and foster people-centred communication. He called for collaboration with Parliament to cultivate a well-informed generation of future leaders. 'I ask for your support in positioning Parliament as a living institution of the people,' he said. Kamalanathan highlighted the event's significance as both a celebration and a commitment to student involvement in the industry. 'As we mark our first anniversary, this celebration is more than a reflection of how far we've come - it's a reaffirmation of our promise to grow alongside the future of this profession,' he said. Over 350 students, professionals, and industry leaders attended WPRD 2025, which featured knowledge-sharing sessions and discussions on empowering the next generation of communicators. - Bernama
