North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed “great satisfaction” over results of recent talks with US officials to discuss a second summit between him and US President Donald Trump, speaking highly of the American leader, state media said on Thursday.
“Kim Jong-un said that we will believe in the positive way of thinking of President Trump, wait with patience and in good faith and, together with the US, advance step by step toward the goal to be reached by the two countries of…
FCA proposes exempting legal heads from senior managers regime
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed to exempt heads of legal at regulated firms from the requirement to be approved as a senior manager under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) in response to concerns that doing so would conflict with legal privilege rules.
Malaysia’s next king: Islam’s defender, political tightrope walker (just ask Mahathir Mohamad)
Malaysia’s nine hereditary Malay rulers will elect their new king, or Yang di Pertuan Agong, tomorrow – just weeks after the previous king, Sultan Muhammad V, stepped down in an unexplained shock resignation following weeks of speculation. It was the first time a Malaysian head of state had abdicated. Experts and insiders believe the new agong will be the Pahang state ruler, Sultan Abdullah, but just why is the monarchy so important to Malaysia?
1. WHAT POWERS DOES THE AGONG HAVE?…
UK vacuum giant James Dyson is moving headquarters to Singapore, citing Chinese market and Asian production
James Dyson, the billionaire Brexit supporter who revolutionised vacuum cleaners with his bagless technology, is moving his head office to Singapore from Britain to be closer to his company’s fastest-growing markets.
Dyson’s company said the move to Singapore, where the firm had already announced it would build its new electric car, was not driven by Britain’s looming departure from the European Union or tax implications, with much of its product development remaining in south…
Mastercard hit with €570m fine over interchange fees
Mastercard has been fined more than €570 million after conditions it imposed on retailers over the fees they had to pay for the processing of some card payments were found to have breached EU competition law.
Former Philippine president Benigno Aquino slams joint deal on South China Sea, cites different numbers from Duterte government
Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino, known for his hardline views on China, on Tuesday appeared to contradict the terms of a deal his successor Rodrigo Duterte is making with China, as he sharply criticised plans for joint energy exploration in the disputed South China Sea.
The Duterte administration has previously said it was open to cooperation on the basis of a 60/40 revenue-sharing formula skewed in its favour – yet according to Aquino, it is China that is going to get the lion…
Secret North Korean missile base Sino-ri found – and there could be 19 more, say researchers
Researchers have uncovered another secret operational ballistic missile base in North Korea – one of approximately 20 undeclared missile sites in the country – according to a new report released on Monday.
Beyond Parallel, a research project conducted by the Washington-based think tank Centre of Strategic and International Studies, identified the site as Sino-ri, a missile operating base that houses a regiment-sized unit equipped with Nodong-1 medium-range ballistic missiles.
CSIS…
‘Biodiversity net gain’ and new developments in England
ANALYSIS: Developing a standardised approach to delivering biodiversity ‘net gain’ on new developments in England, as proposed by the government, will ultimately benefit both local authorities and developers.
Bangsamoro autonomy vote in southern Philippines proves peaceful, apart from a grenade
Fears that the first stage of a landmark referendum on greater autonomy for the Philippines’ restive Muslim-majority south would be derailed by violence on Monday failed to materialise, soothing nerves within the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as it works to end one of Asia’s longest-running separatist conflicts.
There were sporadic reports of confrontations in urban areas with a mixed Christian and Muslim population such as Cotabato City, where a grenade was thrown…
Ex-Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn asks for bail, promises not to flee Japan
Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn on Monday asked for his release on bail from a two-month detention in Japan, promising he will report to prosecutors daily and wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.
“As the court considers my bail application, I want to emphasise that I will live in Japan and respect any and all bail conditions the court concludes are warranted,” he said in a statement shared with The Associated Press through a representative of Ghosn and his family….