Ocean Viking migrants to be shared among 6 EU members

ROME, Aug 23 (NNN-ANSA) — The 356 migrants aboard the French NGO ship Ocean Viking will be shared among six European Union countries, Italian news agency ANSA reported Friday. France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Romania will take them in, said Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Twitter. Malta will put…

Najib’s trial Day 57: Najib says he spent RM3.3 mln on gifts for wife of former Qatar PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 ( NNN-BERNAMA) — An investigating officer with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) told the High Court here Friday that Najib Razak claimed he spent RM3.3 million on gifts for the wife of the former prime minister of Qatar in 2014. MACC senior assistant commissioner (Special Operations Division) Rosli Husain,…

Dr Mahathir’s visit to Vietnam expected to enhance KL-Hanoi ties

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s planned visit to Vietnam next week will strengthen the existing strategic partnerships between the two Southeast Asian nations, said Vietnam’s Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh. Le said the visit would also put on track…

Mokhtar Hussain is Bernama’s new Editor-In-Chief

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) today announced the promotion of Datuk Mokhtar Hussain as its editor-in-chief with immediate effect. Mokhtar, 58, has been the deputy editor-in-chief (domestic news service) and was serving as the acting editor-in-chief for the last two months until today. Bernama said in a statement that as the…

Majestic Merbau is Malaysia’s national tree

Photo courtesy of shutterstock. Texture of the Merbau tree in Papua, Indonesia. By Donny Sophandi KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Merbau (Malacca teak) tree is now Malaysia’s National Tree. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad made the announcement during his speech opening the Hutan Kita (Our Forests) exhibition at the Kuala Lumpur Tower…

Disasters triggered by climate change growing in intensity, says report

BANGKOK, Aug 23 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Disasters,  especially those triggered by climate change and environmental degradation, have deviated from their usual tracks and are growing in intensity, frequency and complexity, according to a report.  The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2019 launched Thursday revealed  that recent disasters were showing that it is now…

N. Korea says it would be ‘miscalculation’ if U.S. confronts Pyongyang with sanctions

SEOUL, Aug 23 (NNN-YONHAP) — North Korea said Friday it would be a “miscalculation” if the United States tries to confront Pyongyang with sanctions, urging it to drop its hostile stance. In a statement, North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho also warned that Pyongyang will remain “the biggest threat” to…

South Sudan makes new oil discovery

JUBA (South Sudan), Aug 23 (NNN-BERNAMA) — South Sudan has discovered a new oil well in the Adar area of Northern Upper Nile State that contains 5.3 million barrels of recoverable crude, Anadolu Agency reported, quoting Petroleum Minister Awow Daniel Chuang Thursday. “This is the first of its kind since independence in 2011.As…

Court orders former Indian finance minister to CBI custody for 4 days

NEW DELHI, India, Aug 23 (NNN-PTI-AGENCIES) — A CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) court here on Thursday sent former finance minister of India, P.Chidambaram to custody for four days till August 26 in the INX Media corruption case. Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar heard the arguments of the CBI and Chidambaram’s…

Norway strongly supports JCPOA

OSLO, Aug 22 (NNN-IRNA) — Chairwoman of the Commission on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Norwegian Parliament Anniken Huitfeldt said on Thursday that although her country is a close ally of the US, it strongly supports the JCPOA or Iran’s Nuclear deal and promoting trade between Oslo and Tehran. She added after…