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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 | Israel to join US in quitting UNESCO
Israel has said it will join the US in pulling out of the UN's cultural organisation UNESCO, after US officials cited "anti-Israel bias".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US decision as "brave and moral", a statement said.
The agency is known for designating world heritage sites such as Syria's Palmyra and the US Grand Canyon.
UNESCO head Irina Bokova earlier called the US withdrawal a matter of "profound regret".
Top 2 | Hamas and Fatah ‘reach reconciliation deal’ in Cairo talks
Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have reached a deal over political reconciliation, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement on Thursday.
A Hamas official told Reuters that details are expected to be released at a noon news conference in Cairo, where unity talks between the rival factions began on Tuesday.
The Western-backed mainstream Fatah party lost control of Gaza to Hamas, considered a terrorist group by the West and Israel, in fighting in 2007. But last month Hamas agreed to cede powers in Gaza to President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah-backed government.
Top 3 | Prime Minister May says Britain prepared to leave EU with no deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May gave her clearest indication so far on Monday that Britain would be prepared to leave the European Union with no deal.
Addressing MPs in the House of Commons on the first day back after the conference season, May said achieving a special partnership after Brexit will require leadership and flexibility, not just from Britain, but from the 27 nations of the EU.
"As we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court. But I am optimistic it will receive a positive response," May told MPs in her first parliamentary statement since her big speech last month in Florence.
Top 4 | Thousands rally for Spanish unity
Thousands of people calling for Spanish unity have attended rallies in the capital Madrid after Sunday's disputed referendum for Catalan independence.
Other demonstrations - including in the Catalan city Barcelona - have also been held urging political dialogue.
Protesters dressed in white gathered with signs saying "Spain is better than its leaders" and "let's talk".
Businesses have continued to announce their departure from the Catalan region amid the ongoing political uncertainty.
Top 5 | DPRK: Kim Jong Un promotes sister to center of power
Kim Yo Jong, sister to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un, was made an alternate member of the Worker's Party Politburo – the country's top decision-making body – following a meeting of the Central Committee on Saturday.
The change in personnel in the country’s ruling center of power came hours after US President Donald Trump said "only one thing will work" in dealing with the isolated country.
Top 6 | U.S. approves possible $15 bn sale of THAAD missiles to Saudi Arabia
The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of a THAAD anti-missile defence system to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of $15 billion (11.48 billion pounds), the Pentagon said on Friday, in a statement citing Iran among regional threats.
Saudi Arabia asked to purchase 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launchers and 360 missiles, as well as fire control stations and radars.
“This sale furthers U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, and supports the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian and other regional threats,” the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation agency said in a statement.
Top 7 | Catalan leaders sign independence declaration but put it on hold
Catalan leaders signed a declaration of independence from Spain on Tuesday but immediately put it on hold and called for talks with Madrid on the country's worst political crisis in decades.
As Spain headed into the unknown, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was to chair an emergency cabinet meeting early Wednesday to discuss the central government's response.
In a speech to regional lawmakers in Barcelona that drew both praise and criticism from separatists, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont said he had accepted "the mandate of the people for Catalonia to become an independent republic" following a banned referendum on October 1.
Top 8 | Iran ready to respond to U.S. new strategy: FM
Iranian foreign minister said Sunday that his country would give appropriate response after U.S. President Donald Trump announces his new strategy on Iran next week.
Mohammad Javad Zarif said that "once Trump makes his comments (about Iran), ... the Islamic Republic of Iran will give an appropriate response."
Zarif was referring to the U.S. president's plan to unveil his new strategy on Iran.
Top 9 | Trump threatens broadcaster NBC after nuclear report
US President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of challenging media licences for NBC News and other news networks after unfavourable reports.
He took aim at NBC, which made him a star on The Apprentice, after it reported he wanted to boost America's nuclear arsenal almost tenfold.
Mr Trump labelled the report "fake news" and "pure fiction".
NBC also angered the White House last week when it said the secretary of state had called Mr Trump "a moron".
Top 10 | Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun announcesshock resignation as profits surge
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (SSNLF, +0.00%) said on Friday its CEO and Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun plans to step down from management, deepening concerns over a leadership vacuum at the tech giant after group scion Jay Y. Lee was jailed for bribery.
The surprise resignation of Samsung’s chip and display head came as he was expected to take a bigger role following Lee’s arrest in February and the departures of other key executives in the wake of the bribery scandal.
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(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)