Brazil rejects G7 aid for Amazon fires

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 27 (NNN-BERNAMA-ANADOLU) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro late Monday rejected a US$22 million aid package offered by G7 countries to help battle fierce forest fires in the Amazon rainforest, which is often regarded as the planet’s “lungs”, reported Anadolu Agency. Speaking on social media, Bolsonaro argued there was…

Sarawak to host 2019 Malaysia Day celebrations

KUCHING, Aug 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s Sarawak state is set to host the 2019 Malaysia Day celebrations in Kuching on Sept 16. Scheduled to be held at Padang Merdeka from 5.30 pm, the celebrations will be a continuation of the National Month and the Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaigns held here from Aug 2 to 4. According…

Qatar Airways launches flights to Langkawi via Penang

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Qatar Airways will launch flights to Langkawi via Penang from Doha, four times a week, starting Oct 15. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said the flights will be increased to five times weekly from Oct 27 using the 787 Dreamliner aircraft.…

Kit Siang proposes joint Federal-Johor govt meet to tackle environmental issues

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — A joint conference between the federal and Johor state governments needs to be conducted to address environmental issues and to pave the way for a blueprint to ensure environmental quality in the state. In proposing this, Iskandar Puteri Member of Parliament Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP…

Najib’s trial: Prosecution closes case, Najib to know his fate on Nov 11

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Former Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is facing seven charges of misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds, will know his fate on Nov 11. On that day, High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who presided over the…

Salvini bars Eleonore from entering Italian waters

ROME, Aug 27 (NNN-ANSA) — Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Tuesday barred the German-flagged migrant rescue ship Eleonore from entering Italian waters with over 100 migrants it picked up off Libya on Monday. Anti-migrant Euroskeptic League party leader Salvini has closed Italy’s ports to NGO-run migrant rescue ships and…

Overpopulation, natural disasters among reasons for Indonesia’s change in capital

ANKARA, Aug 26 (NNN-BERNAMA-ANADOLU) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi on Monday cited overpopulation, environmental degradation and economy as reasons for the country’s move to relocate its new capital to the Island of Borneo from Jakarta. The location of the new capital will straddle two districts — Penajam Paser…

Najib’s trial Day 58: Nov 11 set for decision on SRC trial

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The High Court here has set Nov 11 for its decision on former Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd trial. The court will decide on whether to order the accused to enter defence or otherwise. Najib faces seven charges, of which three…

Argentine court decides not to suspend corruption case of ex-president

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 27 (NNN-XINHUA) — A federal court of Argentina on Monday rejected 51 requests to suspend or throw out charges of corruption against the country’s ex-president and current Senator Cristina Fernandez, and put her on trial, Xinhua news agency reported. Fernandez and 12 others were accused of illicit enrichment in granting…

Malaysian arrested at Chennai Airport with 6.5 kg of gold

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, Aug 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — A Malaysian woman was arrested with smuggled gold worth 25 million rupees (US$349,358) at Chennai’s international airport. Indian customs officials, acting on a tip-off, arrested the passenger on Sunday after they found 12 gold bars weighing 6.5 kg in her baggage. The…