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The billionaire sultan of Johor state has been sworn in as Malaysia’s new king under the nation’s unique rotating monarchy system.

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, took his oath of office at the palace and signed the instrument of the proclamation of office in a ceremony witnessed by other royal families, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and cabinet members.

A coronation ceremony will be held at a later time.

Under the unique system, the heads of Malaysia’s nine royal families take turns to be the King, known as the “Yang di-Pertuan Agong” every five years.

Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar sits during the oath taking ceremony as the 17th King of Malaysia at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 31, 2024. MOHD RASFAN/Pool via REUTERS
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Pic: REUTERS


Known for his large collection of luxury cars and motorbikes, Sultan Ibrahim has wide-ranging business interests from real estate to mining, including a stake in Forest City – a £79bn China-backed land reclamation and development project off Johor.

The new monarch has close ties with Anwar, and his rule could bolster the prime minister’s united government, which faces strong Islamic opposition.

Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar arrives to take part in the oath taking ceremony as the 17th King of Malaysia at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 31, 2024. MOHD RASFAN/Pool via REUTERS
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Pic: REUTERS

Ahead of his installation, Sultan Ibrahim told Singapore’s The Straits Times newspaper he intends to be an active monarch and proposed that Malaysia’s state oil firm Petroliam Nasional and the country’s anti-corruption agency should report directly to the King.

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He also spoke of his plans to revive a stalled high-speed rail link project between Malaysia and Singapore, with a border crossing through Forest City.

Army soldiers fire cannons during a welcoming ceremony of the 17th King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia January 31, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/Pool
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Pic: REUTERS

Prime Minister Ibrahim later downplayed the statements, saying all opinions can be discussed without disregarding the federal constitution, state media reported.

Sultan Ibrahim takes on his duties as King amid renewed political tensions in Malaysia.

The country has seen ongoing political turmoil since 2018 when the then-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition was ousted from power for the first time since independence, prompting the monarch to play a greater role.

The military band performs during a welcoming ceremony of the 17th King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia January 31, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/Pool
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Pic: REUTERS

Nine ethnic Malay state rulers have taken turns as King for five-year terms under the world’s only such system since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957.

Sultan Ibrahim’s election to the national throne by his fellow rulers in October was widely expected based on an established rotation order.

Sultan Nazrin, the ruler of Perak state and next in line to the throne, was re-elected as deputy monarch.

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Ukraine war: 14 killed as Russian missile and drone attacks strike Kyiv – including American citizen

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Ukraine war: 14 killed as Russian missile and drone attacks strike Kyiv - including American citizen

Russian missile and drone attacks have killed 14 people in Kyiv overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.

A 62-year-old US citizen who suffered shrapnel wounds is among the dead.

At least 99 others were wounded in strikes that hollowed out a residential building and destroyed dozens of apartments.

Emergency workers carry an injured firefighter following Russia's combined missile and drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 17, 2025
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Pic: AP

Emergency workers were at the scene to rescue people from under the rubble.

Images show a firefighter was among those hurt, with injured residents evacuated from their homes.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as “one of the most terrifying attacks on Kyiv” – and said Russian forces had fired 440 drones and 32 missiles as civilians slept in their homes.

“[Putin] wants the war to go on,” he said. “It is troubling when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye to it.”

Emergency workers evacuate an injured resident following Russia's combined missile and drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 17, 2025
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Pic: AP

Ukraine’s interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said 27 locations across the capital have been hit – including educational institutions and critical infrastructure.

He claimed the attack, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was one of the largest on the capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Drones swarmed over the city, with an air raid alert remaining in force for seven hours.

One person was killed and 17 others injured as a result of separate Russian drone strikes in the port city of Odesa.

Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

It comes as the G7 summit in Canada continues, which Ukraine’s leader is expected to attend.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to hold talks with Donald Trump – but the president has announced he is unexpectedly returning to Washington because of tensions in the Middle East.

Ukraine’s foreign minister says Moscow’s decision to attack Kyiv during the summit is a signal of disrespect to the US.

Moscow has launched a record number of drones and missiles in recent weeks, and says the attacks are in retaliation for a Ukrainian operation that targeted warplanes in airbases deep within Russian territory.

Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko says fires broke out in two of the city’s districts as a result of debris from drones shot down by the nation’s air defences.

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A multi-storey apartment in Kyiv was struck. Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

On X, Ukraine’s foreign ministry wrote: “Russia’s campaign of terror against civilians continues. Its war against Ukraine escalates with increased brutality.

“The only way to stop Russia is tighter pressure – through sanctions, more defence support for Ukraine, and limiting Russia’s ability to keep sowing war.”

Olena Lapyshnak, who lived in one of the destroyed buildings, said: “It’s horrible, it’s scary, in one moment there is no life. I can only curse the Russians, that’s all I can say. They shouldn’t exist in this world.”

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Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London cancelled days after fatal crash

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Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London cancelled days after fatal crash

An Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London has been cancelled.

No explanation has been given for the cancellation so far, Sky News understands.

However, Indian-English language channel CNN News18 reported that the cancellation of the flight, which arrived from Delhi, was due to “technical issues”.

It comes after a UK-bound Air India flight catastrophically crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport in western India on Thursday, killing 229 passengers and 12 crew, with one person surviving the crash.

Among the victims were several British nationals, whose deaths in the crash have now been officially confirmed, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said as he shared his condolences on X.

Yesterday, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – the same type as the aircraft involved in last week’s tragedy – had to return to Hong Kong mid-flight after a suspected technical issue.

Air India flight 159, which was cancelled on Tuesday, was also a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

It was due to depart from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.10pm local time (8.40am UK time). It was set to arrive at London’s Gatwick Airport at 6.25pm UK time.

Air India’s website shows the flight was initially delayed by one hour and 50 minutes before being cancelled.

As a result, passengers have been left stranded at the airport. The next flight from Ahmedabad to London is scheduled for 11.40am local time (7.10am UK time) on Wednesday.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

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Israeli tank shelling kills 51 people waiting for aid in Khan Younis, Hamas-run health ministry says

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Israeli tank shelling kills 51 people waiting for aid in Khan Younis, Hamas-run health ministry says

Israeli tank shellfire has killed at least 51 Palestinians in Khan Younis, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Hundreds of others have been injured, with “dozens of critical cases” arriving at a medical complex.

It is feared that the number of fatalities will rise.

People react as casualties are brought to hospital. Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

The strikes took place as people waited for United Nations and commercial aid trucks in the southern Gaza city.

Witnesses said that Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on a nearby home before opening fire toward the crowd.

“Emergency, intensive care, and operating rooms are experiencing severe overcrowding,” a statement said.

Officials say medical staff “are operating with limited supplies of life-saving medicines” – with the ministry renewing an “urgent appeal” to increase aid.

Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

Hours earlier, Donald Trump had joined other G7 leaders to call for a “de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza”.

The Israeli military is yet to comment on this incident.

On Monday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least 34 people were shot dead near food distribution centres.

This was the highest reported daily total since Israel and US-backed aid centres opened last month, with thousands of Palestinians moving through Israeli military-controlled areas to reach them.

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