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Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing ..read more

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for “offensive measures” to strengthen security ahead of a New Year speech that could flesh out the nuclear-armed nation’s threat to seek a “new way” forward after the expiration of its year-end deadline for US sanctions relief. Kim’s latest comments, made during a meeting of top ruling party officials in Pyongyang, came amid concerns that the North could formally close down dialogue with Washington and resume nuclear and long-range missile tests. Addressing the officials, Kim stressed the need “to take positive and offensive measures for fully ensuri ..read more

China on Monday jailed the leader of an unofficial Protestant church for nine years for “incitement to subvert state power”. Pastor Wang Yi, whose Early Rain Covenant Church was the target of a government crackdown last year, was also found guilty of “illegal business operation” by a court in Chengdu, southwest China, according to an announcement on an official court website. Wang was detained in December 2018 in a raid by authorities in which dozens of members of his “underground church” disappeared. China’s officially atheist government is wary of any organised movements outside its own cont ..read more

A Nepalese worker was killed Monday after he fell into a meat-mincing machine in Malaysia’s Malacca state, an official confirmed. The Malacca fire department’s Zulkhairani Ramli told AFP the 47-year-old man was working at a meat-processing factory near Masjid Tanah when the incident occurred. “The victim was doing maintenance with three other workers when suddenly the machine was turned on,” he said. “The machine caught him at his waist. Because of his injuries, he died on the spot.” Zulkhairani said authorities took about 30 minutes to extricate the man’s body from the machine and that offici ..read more

Russia and Japan’s foreign ministers met on Thursday to try and find a solution to a territorial dispute that has prevented them from signing a formal WWII peace treaty. The Soviet Union seized the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Japan’s Hokkaido in the final days of World War II and has maintained a military presence there ever since. It’s the third time in four months that Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Japanese counterpart Toshimutsu Motegi have met. “The talks were constructive and substantial,” said Lavrov after a meeting with his Japanese counterpart ..read more

Macau on Friday marks 20 years since the former colony was returned to China with a celebration led by President Xi Jinping touting the success of the pliant gambling hub while Hong Kong boils. The day’s festivities will centre around the inauguration of a new leader for a city that China views as a shining example of its “one country, two systems” model. Ho Iat-seng, a former member of China’s top lawmaking body, won a one-horse race this summer to become Macau’s new chief executive — a position that is chosen by a 400-member committee stacked with Beijing loyalists. Among those to attend the ..read more

The US Senate on Thursday confirmed North Korea negotiator Stephen Biegun to be the State Department’s number two, raising the possibility that the veteran Republican will become the acting top US diplomat next year. Biegun, currently on a trip to Asia as tensions mount with North Korea, was easily confirmed as deputy secretary of state, with 90 votes in favor and three senators, all Democrats, opposed. Biegun’s elevation means he would take over as the acting top US diplomat if Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaves to seek a Senate seat, a prospect that political pundits see as increasingly l ..read more

As the world of work changes, finding your niche among the host of employment options in the APAC is very challenging. Looking for the next challenge means considering more than bottom-line salaries and benefits. Joining like-minded talented, bright and ambitious people is of high importance, alongside career and skills development. To get the best talent, companies across the APAC region must set themselves well apart from their competitors to keep the new generation of workers interested and engaged. That involves job-seekers responding to recruitment messages, of course, but finding a place ..read more

Malaysia will this week host a summit of Muslim leaders billed as a forum to look at the Islamic world’s problems, but it will be closely watched for Middle East power plays and their stance on China’s Uighur minority. Leaders from Iran, Turkey, and Qatar will be among hundreds of delegates attending the three-day event set to discuss myriad challenges faced by Muslims. The summit has been pushed by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has long championed greater solidarity among the world’s Islamic communities — and wants to boost his country’s standing on the international stage. A ..read more