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Every Saturday, Asia Pacific Daily will provide you with a run-down of the latest hot news.
This week, the following hot news you should know:
TOP 1 DPRK launches ICBM 'capable of hitting US mainland'
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) successfully test-fired a newly developed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) early Wednesday morning, the country's Korean Central Television reported.
The DPRK tested "Hwasong-15" after its top leader Kim Jong Un signed the order the previous day, the Korean Central Television reported in a special mid-day broadcast, with its broadcasters telling the story in a celebrative mood.
TOP 2 |Trump-Russia: Michael Flynn admits lying to FBI
Ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about meetings with Russia's ambassador weeks before Donald Trump became president.
The charges were brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, as part of his inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.
Mr Flynn is the most senior member of the administration to be indicted.
He also revealed he was co-operating with Mr Mueller's inquiry. Significantly, a statement made by Mr Flynn to prosecutors appears to implicate a more senior, though unnamed, Trump team official - indicating the direction in which Mr Mueller's investigation may be heading.
Numerous US media outlets said the senior official now under the spotlight is Jared Kushner - Mr Trump's adviser and son-in-law.
TOP 3 | Merkel's conservatives, SPD gear up for 'serious' coalition talks
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats geared up Monday for talks on renewing their alliance, as Germany's veteran leader warned time is pressing as Europe faces a slew of challenges.
After huddling with leaders of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Berlin, Merkel told reporters that her party was ready to hold serious talks with the centre-left SPD to form Germany's next government.
Merkel has been struggling to form a coalition after elections in September left her without a majority in parliament.
As the SPD refused initially to renew an alliance with Merkel's conservatives, the chancellor had sought to partner up with the pro-business FDP and the ecologist Greens.
TOP 4 | Indonesia raises volcano alert status in Bali to highest, closes airport
Administrator of Bali international airport closed down the airport operation shortly after the authorities raised alert status over the island’s erupting volcano of Mount Agung into top alert of level 4 on Monday.
Spokesman of Bali International airport (DPS) Arie Ahsanurrohim said the airport closure was started from 07.15 a.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA) on Monday until 07.00 a.m. in the following day.
TOP 5 | Pope dives into Rohingya crisis upon arrival in Myanmar
Pope Francis arrived Monday on a visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh to encourage their tiny Catholic communities and reach out to some of Asia’s most peripheral and poor, but the big question looming was whether he would utter the word “Rohingya” while he’s here.
Francis immediately dove into the Rohingya Muslim crisis by meeting Monday evening with Myanmar’s powerful military leader, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and three officials from the bureau of special operations. The general is in charge of the security operations in Rakhine state, where a military crackdown against the Muslim minority has sent more than 620,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh.
TOP 6 | Japan's emperor to abdicate on April 30, 2019
Japan's government has chosen April 30, 2019 as the date for Emperor Akihito's abdication, and the following day to be Crown Prince Naruhito's accession, NHK reported, after a meeting by the Imperial House Council ended.
The special panel met earlier on Friday to discuss the date for Emperor Akihito’s planned abdication – the first by a Japanese monarch in about two centuries – clearing the way for the government to formally decide when the 84-year-old emperor will retire.
TOP 7 | Lebanese PM threatens to resign over Hezbollah influence
Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Monday that he will resign if the Hezbollah militant group refuses to accept a new power-sharing arrangement for Lebanon, speaking as consultations got underway in Beirut between political leaders over the government's future.
Hariri made his threat in an interview with the French broadcaster CNews.
** TOP 8 | China supports Central, Eastern European countries to join EU: Premier**
China supports the intention of some Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries to join the European Union (EU), Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in the Hungarian capital Budapest on Monday, adding that the cooperation between China and CEE countries is a "beneficial supplement" to the China-Europe cooperation as a whole.
Premier Li made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the sixth meeting of heads of government of China and 16 Central and Eastern European Countries (China-CEEC summit).
Eleven of the 16 CEE countries have already joined the EU, while Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are not EU members.
TOP 9 | Egypt's president vows to avenge mosque attack victims as 305 died
The number of people known to have died in a gun and bomb attack on a mosque in Egypt has risen to more than 300, state media had said.
The death toll is now at 305, including 27 children, the MENA news agency reported.
It was one of the world's worst attacks since the 9/11 atrocities in the US 16 years ago.
TOP 10 | Prince Harry to marry Meghan Markle next year
Britain's Prince Harry will marry his US actress girlfriend Meghan Markle early next year after the couple became engaged earlier this month, Clarence House announced Monday.
"His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle. The wedding will take place in Spring 2018," said the official statement.
The couple became engaged in London earlier this month, his office said, adding that the 33-year-old prince had informed his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, close members of the royal family and had sought the blessing of Markle's parents.
**Related ** :
Egypt's president vows to avenge mosque attack victims as 305 died
Bangladesh, Myanmar agree for UNHCR to assist Rohingya refugees' return
Prince Harry to marry Meghan Markle next year
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
