S. Korea proposes sending team to inspect facilities at N.Korea’s Mt Kumgang

By Koh Byung-joon File photo of earlier talks in October over Mt. Kumgang tour issues. Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul (R) talks with Baek Kook-hwan (L), head of Hyundai Asan Corp., and An Young-bae (2nd from L), head of the state-run Korean Tourism Organization, over issues related to their suspended tour…

1MDB Trial: US$2.2 bln lost in dealings with PSI – Witness

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi said the sovereign wealth fund was only paid RM129 million by PetroSaudi International Limited (PSI) although it owed 1MDB a total of US$2.2 billion. Shahrol Azral, 49, told the High Court here that PSI…

Mara Corp-Lynas MoU inked without approval – Mara

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Mara Corporation Sdn Bhd (Mara Corp) and Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd yesterday was done without the approval of  Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), said its chairperson Dr Hasnita Hashim. She said such a move by Mara Corp, a subsidiary of Mara, was…

Malaysia has its own laws when classifying terrorist groups – police

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia has its own laws and systems in determining whether a group is extremists or terrorists, including in the case of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).  Bukit Aman’s Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division (E8) principal assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said although the…

Russia ready to assist in talks with Damascus and Kurds

MOSCOW, Nov 5 (NNN-SPUTNIK) — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said Tuesday that Russia was ready to assist in talks between Damascus and Kurds on the SDF joining the Syrian government army. “We have repeatedly said that we support the dialogue between Kurdish representatives and the central authorities in…

Malaysia SDG Summit likely to push for urgency in meeting goals

By Syamsiah Sahat & Rosemarie Khoo KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The two-day inaugural Malaysia Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit 2019 that begins here tomorrow (Wednesday) is likely to administer a sense of urgency in attaining many of the objectives.    The summit, which carries the theme Accelerating Progress on the SDGs: Whole of Nation Approach, …

Aussie govt wants Malaysia to drop conditions on Lynas

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Australian government is hoping that Malaysia will drop conditions imposed on rare earth company Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd operating in Gebeng, Kuantan. This was among the matters raised in talks between Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison…

Trade wars only translate to businesses suffering – AIBC co-chairman

By V. Sankara Subramaniam  KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Bussinesses will suffer and ultimately the people on the ground will end up paying the price of trade wars, says      ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC) co-chairman, Ramesh Kodammal. “Trade spats will not benefit any country, be it the ones that started…

Asean is successful and stable – Dr M

By Voon Miaw Ping BANGKOK, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has grown tremendously over the years to become the most stable regional organisation in the world today, said Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. “ASEAN is today the most stable regional organisation in the world, compared…

15 countries involved in RCEP conclude negotiations without India

By Linda Khoo Hui Li & Voon Miaw Ping BANGKOK , Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The 15 participating countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have concluded the negotiations Monday night, leaving India out of the deal which would have been the largest trade pact in the world. The…