Brazil’s burning ban takes effect as Amazon fires rage

BRASILIA, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 60-day ban on burning inBrazil took effect Thursday after a global outcry over fires raging in theAmazon and data showing hundreds of new blazes in the rainforest. The decree issued by President Jair Bolsonaro comes after escalatinginternational pressure over the worst fires in the…

Indonesian police investigate palm oil companies over forest fires: Ministry

JAKARTA, Aug 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Indonesian police are investigating three palm oil companies on suspicion of starting fires on Borneo island, where environmentalists say extensive deforestation has occurred to make way for plantations, a government ministry said. The Ministry of the Environment and Forests is also investigating 24 other companies…

Update: Yemen’s separatists vow revenge for government assault on Aden

ADEN, Aug 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Southern Yemeni separatists vowed to avenge a government assault on their positions in Aden and brought in reinforcements from elsewhere, threatening an escalation in fighting between nominal allies in the country’s complex war. The separatists and Yemen’s internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi are supposed…

Pakistan PM Khan calls for nationwide protests over Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Aug 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for mass demonstrations across the country to protest against Delhi’s actions in Indian-administered Kashmir, as tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals continued to boil. “I want all Pakistanis to come out tomorrow (Friday) 12 noon – 12.30pm to show solidarity…

Timor Leste marks 20 years since historic independence vote

DILI, Aug 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Timor Leste on Friday marks 20 years since a UN-backed vote ended a bloody, decades-long occupation by Indonesian forces and paved the way for it to become an independent nation. On Aug 30, 1999, nearly 80 per cent of East Timorese voted to split from neighbouring…

Beijing refuses to ‘budge’ on South China Sea: Philippines

BEIJING, Aug 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China told visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that its position on the South China Sea was not up for negotiation, a spokesman for the leader said. China claims most of the contested sea, including waters close to Philippine shores, and has rejected a UN-backed international…

DR Congo: Ebola death toll in east region outbreak climbs above 2,000

GOMA (DR Congo), Aug 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from Democratic Republic of Congo’s year-long Ebola outbreak has climbed above 2,000, government data showed on Friday, as responders battle to overcome community mistrust and widespread security problems. The government team overseeing the response said the number of confirmed and…

British PM Johnson steps up Brexit talks with EU as he faces legal challenges

LONDON, Aug 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wantsto “step up the tempo” in talks with the European Union to strike a newBrexit deal before the Oct 31 deadline. The comments came ahead of a court ruling Friday that could block Johnson’s suspension of parliament just weeks…

78 more illegal Myanmar migrant workers repatriated from Thailand

YANGON, Aug 30 (NNN-Xinhua) — A total of 78 more illegal Myanmar migrant workers have been sent back to homeland from Thailand, Myanmar’s immigration authorities said on Friday. The illegal migrant workers including six women were handed over by Thailand’s Immigration Department through Kawthoung border gate in southern Tanintharyi region…

Update: Colombia’s FARC political party “sorry” for ex-leaders’ decision to take up arms again

BOGOTA, Aug 30 (NNN-Xinhua) — The leftist political party created by the dismantled Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group on Thursday apologized for some of its rebel leaders’ decision to take up arms again against the state. “We apologize to the country and the international community … They…