Refugees explains why refugees & asylum seekers can’t be sent back home. Video courtesy UN Twitter

Mandela Day calls on us all, every day, to make the world a better place. Each year on 18 July we look back on what has been done, and forward to what will be done. Making every day a Mandela Day celebrates Madiba’s life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about enduring change.

Kuala Lumpur, July 9 : Colombian singer Concha Bernal sings May Rain, a popular Colombian folk song as percussionist Yeyfry Vásquez accompanies her on the tambor alegre. The duo along with their other band members, Ramón Paz and Andrés Cupabán will feature as part of the week-long celebration in the city organised by the Embassy of Colombia here in conjunction with its Bicentennial of the Independence of Colombia from July 8 to July 15. The band had accompanied Colombia’s Ambassador to Malaysia His Excellency Mauricio González López who was in Wisma Bernama for an interview with its International News Service.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 –Award-winning play, The Phantom of The Opera is currently on at the Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur. Featuring an international cast, and a full 12-piece live orchestra, the Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production is a winner of multiple awards including seven Tony’s on Broadway and four Olivier Awards in the West End. Based on the novel of French writer Gaston Leroux, the play tells the story of Phantom, a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House, and his obsession with the talented young soprano Christine Daaé. An epitome in theatre production, The Phantom of the Opera in Kuala Lumpur is jointly presented by Lunchbox Productions, Base Entertainment Asia and TEG Dainty. The run in Istana Budaya ends this Sunday, July 7.

“For the first time in Africa, we are putting wildlife at the centre of economic development & people.” – @UNEnvironment’s @JoyceMsuya on creating of a sustainable wildlife economy. Gabon and Zimbabwe this week announced their commitment to attracting more tourists to their national parks through securing investment that will help support wildfire protection and the local communities. Photo courtesy of UN

OPEC is a permanent intergovernmental organization of 14 oil-exporting developing nations that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its Member Countries. The Conference runs till July 2, 2019. Video courtesy of Telesur

25 million refugees are generously hosted by countries around the world. These are the countries that have stepped up for those who have lost everything. Video Courtesy of UN Twitter

Every day, everywhere, family farmers work hard to produce the food we eat. 80% of the food we eat depends on the hard work of family farmers. Video courtesy of UN

With more than 20 influential industry experts flying in from around the globe, there’s only one place to comprehensively engage with the Industrial Revolution 4.0. By playing host to a wealth of international speakers, the Beyond Paradigm Summit 2019 promises to be as exciting as it is informative. The summit runs from 17-18 July, MITEC KL | 20-21 July, Pullman, Kuching

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them. Video courtesy UN

VAN, Turkey – June 7 – A Swallow is seen at Lake Van basin which hosts many kinds of birds in Van, Turkey. 215 bird species can be observed at Lake Van basin located at eastern part of Turkey. Video courtesy of Anadolu Agency

Monday is World Bicycle Day. Cycling promotes clean energy & wellness. As affordable & sustainable means of transport, bikes are a tool for sustainable development & equality. For over 100 years, bicycles have helped advance women’s rights by increasing their access to education, health care & sport. Video courtesy UNDP

The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is a United Nations observance each 4 June. The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN’s commitment to protect the rights of children. Video courtesy of UN

This year’s #WorldOceansDay on 8 June will focus on the actions needed around the world to protect our seas. Video courtesy UN

This July 20-21, innovators around the globe meet to exchange concepts and opinions for technological advancements at Beyond Paradigm Summit 2019 in Kuala Lumpur. Video courtesy of Bernama

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres carried his message of solidarity and tolerance to New Zealand, where he met with the Muslim community following the recent terror attacks in Christchurch. Video courtesy UN

Sent to prison in #Myanmar for 7 years just because her #Rohingya father was a political activist, @waiwainu is today a force to reckon with. Now a law graduate, she dedicates her life to defending the #HumanRights of Rohingya women & girls. Video courtesy of UN

Gending Sriwijaya is the name of a song and a traditional dance from Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. This song is sung or played during the Gending Sriwijaya dance performance. Both of the song and the dance was created to describes the splendor, cultural refinement, glory and the grandeur of Srivijayan empire that once succeed on unifying the western parts of Indonesian archipelago. Video courtesy NNN

Eastern Cape, South Africa – People of Sakhela Village outside Mthatha in the Eastern Cape cast their votes on May 8, 2019. A record number of voters registered, but the youth under 30 was notably absent from that list. While voting across the country went largely smoothly, there were a number of issues with protest action preventing polling stations from opening. There were also issues with polling stations running out of ballot papers.

Flanked by royal guards marching to a steady drumbeat, Thailand’s newly-crowned King Maha Vajiralongkorn was carried on a gilded palanquin through the streets of old Bangkok Sunday, in front of crowds who shouted “long live the king!”. Video courtesy TNA

Japan’s new era beginning May 1 has been named “Reiwa,” with Crown Prince Naruhito due to ascend to the throne that day to succeed his father Emperor Akihito.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo says the application of the 5G technology in the near future is expected to provide a major boost for the Malaysian economy. He hoped the people would see how important the technology is and how it could change the way businesses are carried out and operated in the future. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Tun Dr. Mahathir last week launched the Malaysian 5G Exhibition in Putrajaya, which showcased some of the technology’s features. The event marked the successful continuation of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) launched 23 years ago.

A massive fire is ripping through Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, toppling the spire on the 850-year-old Gothic monument and leaving France in shock over the potential loss of one of the nation’s most famous landmarks. Video courtesy of Anadolu

On Japan’s southern, subtropical islands of Okinawa, cherry blossoms open as early as January, while on the northern island of Hokkaido, they bloom as late as May. In most major cities in between, including Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the cherry blossom season typically takes place in early April. Video courtesy of Anadulo

KIGALI, Rwanda, April 8 – The remarks by Rwandan president Paul Kagame during the 25th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, an event held in Kigali on April 7th, 2019. Video courtesy of Paul Kagame

The world’s greatest sprinter of all time, Jamaican Usain Bolt, ran against a traditional mototaxi —and defeated it— during an exhibition, which took place in Lima City’s residential Miraflores district. Video courtesy of www.miraflores.gob.pe

LANGKAWI, March 29 (Bernama) — Keep your eyes peeled at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2019 (LIMA’19) exhibition for you might spot a JAWS aeroplane parked on the tarmac of the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC). Now, before you call out “Shark attack!”, notice that rather than scaring people off, the great white shark nose art of the Embraer E190-E2 is catching a lot of attention, including that of Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was invited on board for a look-see on the first day of the biennial event.

Japan is supporting island nations vulnerable to climate change. From the beaches of Tonga to the rainforests of Papua New Guinea, climate change is having devastating effects on island nations around the world. As a country that values the steady implementation of the Paris Agreement, Japan has partnered with both the Government of Tonga and the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority to provide technology and training, with a view to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Video courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/environment/warm/cop/index.html

Langkawi, Malaysia, March 24 – The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019 is set to take off in this island on Tuesday, March 26. The week-long event will see Malaysia once again hosting an international standard defence exhibition with the participation of leading defence industries from all over the world. Preparations for the event meanwhile has been going smoothly at this leading island resort which has been hosting the event every two years since it took off three decades ago. The Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) is expected to put up an exciting opening act at the event. Photo courtesy of RMAF.

Speaking to BNC’s Bernama Today hosts Jessy Chahal and Elane Noor Abdullah, Dr Hezri highlights some of the pressing environment related issues facing the country today. There is an urgent need for Malaysia to get its water resources in order, says Dr Hezri, who is a Senior Director with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS).

Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, #CycloneIdai has created “inland oceans running for mile after mile, with water above tree-level” says @WFP on the ground @UNOCHA @WHO. Emergency “bigger by the hour”.

NZ premier Jacinda Ardern at a press conference on Christchurch shootings

this is a short video introducing the Ecosystem Restoration Cooperative and the Ecosystem Restoration Camps. This is a self-organizing, direct action to train and deploy everyone to mitigate and adapt to human induced climate change by restoring ecological function on a planetary scale. Welcome to join the Cooperative: www.commonland.com

On International Women’s Day (8 March 2019), UN Women calls on the world to “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change.”

This official PSA for UN World Wildlife Day 2019 was produced by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in collaboration with the CITES Secretariat and UNDP.

On 1 March, UNAIDS is highlighting the need to act to change discriminatory laws. All over the world people are unable to live with dignity because of laws and policies that discriminate. #ZeroDiscrimination

Norway’s Trade Minister Torbjorn Roe Isaksen speaks to Bernama”s Economic News Service reporter Sharifah Pirdaus Syed Ali on his country’s stand on palm oil import. For related story please click Europe category or More news.

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and members of the campaign team today addressed a mammoth crowd of supporters at the Taslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos during the APC Presidential campaign rally.

This film questions the orthodox opinion that only private ownership can protect the ecosystems. It discusses the thoughts and rights of people around the world and shows how landless people are protecting the common heritage of the Earth. How have they lost their basic human rights? We need a profound conversation about this.

Bernama CEO Nurini Kassim speaks at World Government summit in Dubai. The seventh session of the World Government Summit kicked off on Sunday in Dubai, with the participation of more than 4,000 people from 140 countries.

Bernama Chief Executive Officer, Nurini Kassim signed the charter initiated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on behalf of the news agency on the sidelines of the World Government Summit 2019

Pakistan Navy is hosting sixth Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN 2019 #Aman2019

For more than 15 years, cameraman and ecologist John D. Liu has been working on his worldwide mission to green deserts and to restore biodiversity.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) during a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces) on 7 February 2019 at 19h00

The iconic Kek Lok Si temple near Air Itam here brightly lit Thursday night to usher in Chinese New Year next week. More than 20,000 lanterns, neon and LED lights.On Thursday, fireworks further lit up the area at the 128-old largest Buddhist temple in South East Asia

Ecotourism is the way forward in the preservation of the Malaysian rainforest heritage, says NAM News Network columnist Andrew Sebastian who talks to BNC’s Bernama Today hosts Jessy Chahal and Tehmina Kaoosji

Film maker and ecologist John Liu journeys into the forests of Rwanda and sees its amazing ecosystems and the hope it offers for the country. Video courtesy of Commonland.com and Ecosystemrestorationcamps.org

Moving, thought-provoking video made by American-Chinese film maker and Ecosystem Ambassador John D. Liu. Courtesy of Commonland.com and Ecosystemrestorationcamps.org

The Mining Charter was gazetted towards the end of 2018 for implementation. The purpose of the video is to unpack in simple terms what the Mining Charter is about and what citizens need to know. “The Mining Charter – Together building a thriving and inclusive mining sector”

Dr Shaaribuu Setev, father of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya, arrives at the Shah Alam High Court for a case related to a RM100 million suit in connection with his daughter’s murder 13 years ago. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA.

A performance from the Sizhou Opera in Bengbu, China. A new bride Wang Guihua sings in anticipation of her seeing her husband, Zhang San, again. She is in love and full of praises for nature. Video courtesy of Johnny Lim, Indonesia.

A snippet into bullfighting traditions of the Luhya community. Why it has stood the test of time and why one should be interested in the ceremony that surrounds it.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran is and will be the most reliable energy provider for India and no economic power can tell us you cannot have relationship with India.