Overview

• During a Kremlin press event, Russian President Vladimir Putin recounted Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim's joke about a 'second wife' throne, sparking laughter and cultural commentary.
• Anwar clarified the remark was a joke, emphasizing he has only one wife, and later noted the unlabelled throne was for the tsar's mother.
• The visit includes high-level discussions on potential collaborations in aerospace, artificial intelligence, and digital technology, signaling deeper ties between Malaysia and Russia.
• The United Nations recently blamed Russia for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a finding Russia rejects as unfair, maintaining diplomatic tensions.
• Putin offered condolences to families of MH17 victims, while Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to seeking justice and accountability for the tragedy.