US to maintain 8,600 troops in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (NNN-UPI) — US President Donald Trump announced plans Thursday to maintain a presence of 8,600 troops in Afghanistan in the midst of a large scale withdrawal from the country. Speaking during an interview on Fox News Radio, Trump said the United States would decrease its presence to…

ESSCOM to tighten security with sea checkpoints

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah), Aug 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is to introduce sea checkpoints as a new feature to enhance security off the Sabah east coast. ESSCom commander Hazani Ghazali said this will allow for better monitoring of vessels at sea. “For example, we can order…

Perdana Botanical Gardens now a complete recreational park

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today opened two facilities at the 131-year-old Perdana Botanical Gardens, making it a complete recreational park with elements of research, education and conservation. The prime minister planted an evergreen Kembang Semangkuk (Scaphium linearicarpum) sapling as a symbolic gesture of the opening of…

Iran open to finding ways forward on JCPOA – Zarif

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Iran will not renegotiate its part in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) but is open to talks with all parties concerned to find ways forward in fulfilling the obligations, said Iran’s Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif. He urged other European members of the accord to fully…

Iran is not isolated from the rest of the world and economy remains strong: Zarif

By Nashir Mansor KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Iran’s economy continues to be resilient despite facing various crippling sanctions from the United States (US), said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Zarif, who was in Malaysia for a one-day visit, said Iran managed to weather the sanctions by undertaking specific programmes and relying…

Italy’s premier-designate Conte sets budget as priority for new govt

ROME, Aug 29 (NNN-ANSA) — Italy’s premier-designate Giuseppe Conte on Thursday set the 2020 budget as a priority for a new government formed by the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD). “This is a delicate phase for the country and the budget is a priority,” he…

Asteroid ‘Taiwan’ expected to come closest to Earth late Thursday

TAIPEI, Aug 29 (NNN-CNA) — 2169 Taiwan, a carbonaceous asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars, will be at its closest to Earth at around 11 pm Thursday, CNA reported quoting the Taipei Astronomical Museum. The asteroid, discovered in 1964 by astronomers at the…

Malaysia’s Queen says a very unique ‘thank you’ to Indonesia

By Yasmin Ahmad Zukiman MAGELANG (Central Java), Aug 29 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s queen, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, had a unique way of saying “thank you” to Indonesia during her state visit to the republic Tuesday. She wore a full set of batik clothes including a selendang (scarve) that…

Iran’s Foreign Minister in Malaysia for official visit

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Malaysia Wednesday for a working visit. In a statement Wednesday, Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said Dr Mohammad Javad would be calling on Prime Minister Tun Dr  Mahathir Mohamad at his office in Putrajaya today.  A bilateral meeting has been…

Diplomats of S. Korea, Japan hold talks after whitelist removal

By Kim Seung-yeon SEOUL, Aug 29 (NNN-BERNAMA-YONHAP) — Diplomats of South Korea and Japan met in Seoul on Thursday for talks over a deepening trade and history row, a day after Tokyo enforced its decision to remove Seoul from its list of favored trade partners. S. Korea-Japan talks Kenji Kanasugi,…