Women accused of killing Kim Jong Nam plead not guilty

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken the title of Workers' Party general secretary in a move apparently aimed at consolidating his grip on power. He also promised to build more sophisticated nuclear weapons.

Ri Sol Ju had not been seen with the North Korean leader for some time. Her absence fueled speculation about her position in the hierarchy and the Kim family.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North Korean dictator, lashed out at Washington as top US diplomatic and military representatives are set to visit Seoul.

North Korean state media says one of its citizens has been handed over by Malaysia to US authorities to face money laundering charges. Pyongyang said the court ruling was an "absurd fabrication and sheer plot."

Pyongyang severs diplomatic ties with Malaysia in response to the extradition of a North Korean citizen to the United States earlier this month, a move it labelled an "unpardonable crime."

Malaysia has its very own leaning tower -- a tilting brick-and-wood building with Chinese-style architecture that was built in the 19th century during colonial times. But beyond its tilt, a result of flooding, the 25.5-metre (83 feet) tower in the middle of the town of Teluk Intan, has little in common with its much taller Italian namesake in the city of Pisa. Despite that, visitors take in the sight and snap photos in front of the historical landmark.

The activist Fahmi Reza got in trouble over a playlist named after a remark the queen is believed to have recently made. The monarch called critics "jealous" after she reportedly jumped the queue for a COVID vaccine.

Malaysian authorities are investigating a collision between metro trains in Kuala Lumpur that injured more than 200 people. The accident happened just before 9:00 pm (1300 GMT) when a packed train collided with a second that was empty and heading in the opposite direction.

Kim has said extreme weather, the coronavirus pandemic and being cut off from Chinese trade could lead to another food crisis in North Korea.

The North Korean leader didn't rule out the possibility of entering into dialogue with Washington but said his country should be more prepared to have an adversarial relationship with the Joe Biden administration.

Kim Yo Jong has suggested talks are not imminent between North Korea and the Joe Biden administration, despite recent optimism from Washington. She believes the US is seeking to "comfort itself" over the idea.

Malaysia's ruling coalition's biggest party, UMNO, has withdrawn its support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin over his cabinet's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.