News in Brief -(20-08-2019)

Turkey stops 330 migrants from reaching Europe
ISTANBUL, Aug 19: Turkish authorities have stopped 330 migrants in northwestern Turkey including Afghans, Syrians and Palestinians from reaching Europe illegally, the state news agency reported on Sunday. Turkish coast guard authorities, patrolling the region, carried out seven operations since Saturday night, the Anadolu news agency reported.As a result, they seized 330 migrants who attempted to cross into the Greek island of Lesbos in boats from the Ayvacik district in the Canakkale province, it said. — AFP
Australian 'most wanted' murder suspect held
SYDNEY, Aug 19: One of Australia's most wanted fugitives has been caught after more than two years on the run over a murder at a major shopping centre, police say. Jonathan Dick, 41, is suspected of killing his brother, David Dick, with a sword in Melbourne in 2017. He was arrested in the city centre on Monday after a fight in a laneway which allegedly involved him and two others. — BBC
Protesters torch parliament building in Papua
MANOKWARI, Aug 19: Thousands of protesters in Indonesia's West Papua province set fire to a local parliament building on Monday in a violent protest against the alleged insults and arrests of Papuan students, officials said. The angered mob torched the building and set fire to tires and twigs on several blocked roads leading to a seaport, shopping centers and offices in Manokwari, the capital city of West Papua province, said Vice Gov. Mohammad Lakotani. — AP
Najib's major 1MDB trial postponed for a week
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19: Malaysian ex-leader Najib Razak's most significant 1MDB trial, which centres on claims huge sums ended up in his bank account, was postponed Monday for a week after prosecutors said they were not ready. It is the second trial linked to scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad that the former prime minister is due to face since his long-ruling coalition suffered a shock election loss last year. — AFP
Somali forces kill 20 militants in S region
MOGADISHU, Aug 19: Somali special forces (Danab) killed 20 al-Shabab militants in counter-offensive in southern Somali region of Lower Shabelle on Sunday night, officials said on Monday. Odawa Yusuf Rage, the commander of Somali infantry division said the militants launched an attack on Somali army base in Bariire town in Lower Shabelle region but the forces fought them back bravely and inflicted severe casualties. --Xinhua
Guinea denies building wall along Cameroon border
MALABO, Aug 19: Equatorial Guinea's foreign affairs minister has denied that the country is building a wall along its border with Cameroon. "Those who talk of a wall lack information," Oyono Esono Angue said on Radio Equatorial Guinea on Friday. The first official response from the government on the subject came during a visit to Yaounde to deliver a letter from President Teodoro Obiang Nguema to his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya. — AFP