M’sian police cripple human trafficking syndicate, 77 arrested

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Police have crippled an international human trafficking syndicate whose network stretched across Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia with the arrest of 77 people, including the  mastermind, a Malaysian,  in a series of operations conducted by the Federal Police (Bukit Aman) Special Branch from Sept 22 until yesterday. Bukit…

Strong earthquake shakes Istanbul

ANKARA, Sept 26 (NNN-ANADOLU) — A powerful earthquake struck the Turkish metropolis Istanbul on Thursday, according to Turkey’s quake monitoring centre.  The Kandilli Observatory said that the earthquake with magnitude of 5.7 hit the Sea of Marmara at 1.59 p.m. (1059GMT). The earthquake, off Istanbul’s Silivri district, occurred at a…

Iraqi PM optimistic about preventing regional war, calls for patience

BAGHDAD, Sept 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi Thursday said after his visit to Saudi Arabia he is optimistic about preventing armed conflict in the Middle East region and called for patience and more efforts to ease the regional tensions, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting a statement. In a…

US-China conflict could end up boosting Asean intra-trade

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The United States (US)-China conflict has the potential to boost the integration of member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), says Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Dr Ong Kian Ming. He said Asean’s integration could materialise in three ways; for instance,…

1MDB Trial: PetroSaudi unhappy with reduced loan amount -witness

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (NNN-BERNAMA) — PetroSaudi International Limited (PSI) was very disappointed and dissatisfied when the amount of the additional loan they requested from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has been reduced from US$330 million to US$205 million, the High court was told today. Former 1MDB chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Shahrol…

1MDB Trial: Jho Low duped bank of US$700 mln – witness

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The High Court here on Wednesday was told that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low had submitted a fake agreement to a bank to enable US$700 million to go into the accounts of his company Gold Star Limited (Good Star). Former 1Malaysia Development…

G20 nations not on track to meet Paris pledges but opportunities are plenty to cut greenhouse gases: UN

NAIROBI, Sept 25 (NNN) — G20 nations are collectively not on track to meet their Paris Agreement commitments, but they have huge opportunities to undertake rapid and deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, a press release issued by the United Nations Environment Programme, citing new UN research findings, said earlier…

Bernama chairman receives Sabah Chief Scout award

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Deputy National Chief Scout Commissioner/Sabah State Chief Scout Commissioner, Datuk Dr Awang Zaini Suntim (second from left) with Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang (second from right) after the handover of the Sabah Chief Scout award at Wisma Bernama today. On far right is Deputy Chief…

Pakistan earthquake update: Death toll rises to 25

KARACHI, Sept 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Rescuers backed by soldiers on Wednesday were struggling to negotiate with collapsed roads and bridges, to reach remote areas in the earthquake-hit Pakistani-administered Kashmir, also known as Azad Kashmir, Abadolu Agency reported, quoting local media and officials. Talking to Anadolu Agency, Information Minister of Azad Kashmir Mushtaq…

Dr Mahathir calls for an end to Rohingya crisis

By Abdul Muin Majid NEW YORK, Sept 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has sounded the clarion call for the international community to put the Rohingya crisis squarely on its radar with a view to resolving it now. Speaking at his first engagement since arriving in…