Category: Uncategorized

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously passed a resolution to expand sanctions aimed at ­cutting North Korea’s ability to fund its nuclear ­programme, but analysts are sceptical on how ­effective it will be.
The new resolution prohibits UN member states from buying coal, iron ore and other key commodities from North Korea, a move meant to cut the country’s export revenue by one third, or US$1 billion, annually, according to the Security Council. But the…

When Cambodian actress Denny Kwan was banned from making films by the government, she faced an ultimatum: dress in a more traditional manner, or risk losing your career. In late April, the 24-year-old was barred from appearing in movies for a year after Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts deemed that her style of dress had violated a 2010 code of conduct relating to “virtue” and “ethics” in the Southeast Asian country. Kwan, who has appeared in many movies…

Almost 14,000 people from across Asia and the Pacific region were refused entry to Hong Kong last year, with most of them told the purpose of their visit was “doubtful”.
That figure has more than doubled in the past three years, according to official statistics, and experts say the trend could be a result of heightened fears over terrorism.
Statistics provided by the Immigration Department showed 13,871 people in the region were denied entry in 2016. Some 11,667 were rejected over a…

Southeast Asia’s top diplomats slammed North Korea with a sharp rebuke on Saturday over its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests and admonished Pyongyang to comply with its duty of helping avert conflicts as a member of Asia’s biggest security forum.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers, however, were split on an American proposal to suspend Pyongyang from the Asean Regional Forum, a 27-nation bloc that includes North Korea and its bitter…

The French Senate has approved the bill allowing the government to fast-track changes to the country’s employment laws after prior discussions with unions and employers’ groups.

The Court of Appeal has overturned a ruling that IBM did not act in good faith when it implemented a series of changes to its defined benefit (DB) pension schemes.

‘This Kim Jong-un, a fool’: Duterte on N Korea’s nuclear ambitions
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has rebuked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over his nuclear programmes after a recent missile test showed Pyongyang may be able to strike anywhere in the US. “This Kim Jong-un, a fool … he is playing with dangerous toys, that fool,” Duterte told officials in a speech. “That chubby face that looks kind. That son of a b****. If he commits a mistake, the…

Researchers have demonstrated that “mutations in human embryos” can be “corrected” using gene editing technology.

Forest City, the sprawling US$100 billion property development being built on artificial islands in Malaysia’s version of Shenzhen bordering Singapore, is already slated to have seafront high-tech office complexes, schools and hotels.
Now, its Chinese developer, Country Garden Holdings, has unveiled plans to launch a traditional Chinese medicine hub to serve its future population of 700,000 people, many of whom will be from China.
Country Garden Pacificview, the joint venture holding…

A warranty provided by construction company MT Hojgaard (MTH) that the underlying works would have a service life of 20 years took precedence over conflicting terms in the contract, including adherence to industry standards, the UK’s highest court has ruled.