US imposes sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif

WASHINGTON, August 1 (NNN-AGENCIES ) – The United States imposed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday amid escalating tensions between the two countries.  It is rare for the US to put a key foreign diplomat on its sanctions list and the move could cut off a channel for talks. …

N. Korea fires 2 short-range ballistic missiles off east coast

SEOUL/WASHINGTON, July 31 (NNN-Yonhap) — North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, the second such launch in less than a week. The first missile was launched at 5:06 a.m., and the second at 5:27 a.m., from…

Sudan suspends schools after student killings

Illustrative photo of Sudanese school children in Juba, South Sudan. Photo courtesy of unmiss.unmissions.org KHARTOUM, July 31 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) – Authorities in Sudan have indefinitely suspended the academic calender nationwide in the wake of the killing of five protesters earlier this week. According to an official report, the five victims included…

India criminalizes ‘triple talaq’ Muslim instant divorce

NEW DEHLI, July 31 (NNN-PTI) –  Parliament on Tuesday approved the bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence, after the contentious legislation was passed by Rajya Sabha following non-aligned BJD extending support and NDA constituents JD-U and AIADMK walking out. Lok Sabha had passed the Muslim Women (Protection…

North Korea fires ‘multiple unidentified projectiles’ off east coast

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un watching through binoculars as a new-type of tactical guided short-range missile is launched on July 25, 2019. Photo courtesy KCNA SEOUL/WASHINGTON, July 31 (NNN-Yonhap) — North Korea on Wednesday fired multiple unidentified projectiles off its east coast, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, the…

Malaysia urges EU to recognise MSPO certification

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia has urged the European Union (EU) to accept and recognise the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme as one of the voluntary schemes under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) for the certification of low indirect land use change risk biofuels and…

AirAsia to remove processing fee starting Oct

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (NNN-Bernama) — Low-cost airline AirAsia will remove the processing fee for customers who pay either through online banking and credit card from October onwards. “We (will) still have some charges to drive traffic to cheaper, safer and less fraudless methods. But there will be methods with…

Saifuddin leads Malaysian delegation to 52nd AMM/PMC in Bangkok

BANGKOK, July 30 (NNN-Bernama) — Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah is leading the Malaysian delegation to the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting/Post Ministerial Conferences and Related Meetings (52nd AMM/PMC) from July 28 to Aug 3 here in Bangkok. In a statement, Wisma Putra said ASEAN foreign ministers would discuss issues…

Newly-installed King cautions against undermining, destroying harmony

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (NNN-Bernama) — Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, in his maiden address as the newly-installed Yang di-Pertuan Agong, called on the people to refrain from inciting misunderstanding by raising matters than can undermine and destroy harmony in the country. His Majesty stressed that unity and harmony…

Malaysia King’s installation begins with the royal salute

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (NNN-Bernama) — The installation of Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri´ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong today began with a Royal Salute steeped in military tradition at the main square of Istana Negara. The ceremony, involving members of the Malaysian Armed Forces, symbolises the pledge…