EU’s Tusk: By Not Proposing Alternatives, Opponents of Irish Backstop back ‘Reestablishing Border’

BRUSSELS, Aug 20 (NNN-BERNAMA-SPUTNIK) — The comments of European Council president Donald Tusk, that without alternatives proposed, the opponents of the Irish Backstop plan were backing “reestablishing border”under the Brexit plan, has raised concerns. Tusk made the comments in response to UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s letter urging the Council…

JFF to feature 13 of Japan’s best movies at GSC nationwide this September

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The annual Japanese Film Festival (JFF) 2019 is set to kick off this September 5 with a month-long screening of 13 finest movies from the “Land of the rising sun” touted to capture the hearts and minds of Malaysian movie goers at selected Golden Screen Cinemas…

India’s moon mission: Chandrayaan 2 successfully enters lunar orbit

BENGALURU, India, Aug 20 (NNN-PTI) — In a major milestone for India’s Moon mission, the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft successfully entered the lunar orbit on Tuesday, reported the Press Trust of India (PTI). Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) maneuver was completed successfully at 0902 hours as planned, using the onboard propulsion system, the…

Pompeo says release of Iranian oil tanker ‘unfortunate’

WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called the release of the Iranian oil tanker “unfortunate,” as the tanker seized by Britain for several weeks now has left Gibraltar, Xinhua news agency reported. “It’s very unfortunate that that ship was released,” said the top US diplomat in an…

10,000 LED lights to be installed in villages by next year

HULU LANGAT, Malaysia, Aug 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) has announced that it will install 10,000 units of Light Emitting Diode (LED) village street lights (LJK) in villages in Peninsular Malaysia starting this year with completion expected next year. Its Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun…

Zakir Naik apologises to Malaysians for hurt caused by his remarks

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik has issued an apology for the hurt caused by his allegedly controversial remarks against Malaysian Hindus and Chinese during a talk in Kota Bharu, Kelantan on Aug 8. He stated that it was never his intention to upset any individual or community and hoped…

Drones being used to monitor peat fire in Miri

MIRI, Aug 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s Civil Defence Force (APM) has identified an area as big as  10.52 hectares which is still covered in thick smoke due to peat fire near Tudan and Hamidah Orphanage Complex in Kuala Baram here. Sarawak’s State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat (JPBN) in a statement said a fire…

Find solution for Open Arms immediate landing, says EC

BRUSSELS, Aug 19 (NNN-BERNAMA-ANSA) — European Commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud called Monday for a solution to the two-week Open Arms NGO migrant rescue ship standoff with Italy to enable an immediate landing of the 130 or so migrants. “We appeal to member States and NGOs to collaborate to find a…

Spain says yes to Open Arms but NGO says too far

ROME, Aug 19 (NNN-BERNAMA-ANSA) — Spain on Sunday offered a safe port to Spanish migrant rescue NGO ship Open Arms which has been stalled at sea with over 100 migrants aboard for over two weeks, but the NGO said even sailing to the nearest port of Minorca would be too…

Search for Singaporean Kayaker called off after 10 days

JOHOR BAHARU, Aug 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The search and rescue (SAR) operation for a Singaporean man who went missing on Aug 8 while on a kayaking expedition in Mersing was called off today after rescuers failed to come up with new leads. Johor maritime director Maritime First Admiral Aminuddin Abdul Rashid said…