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Every weekend, 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 |**Russia, Ukraine end third round of talks with little progress
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators failed to achieve significant results during their third round of peace talks in Belarus on Monday.
"The discussions continued on political and military aspects. However, it remains difficult. It is too early to talk about something positive," Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, also head of the Russian delegation, said following the talks.
Russian negotiators brought a large set of documents, including specific agreements, but the Ukrainian side could not sign them on the spot and took them back home for study, he told reporters.
**Top 2 |**Yoon Suk-yeol elected South Korean president, vows national unity
Yoon Suk-yeol, leader of the main conservative opposition People Power Party, won a narrow victory in the South Korean presidential election held on Wednesday, results show.
Yoon garnered 48.56 percent of the votes, defeating his liberal rival Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party, who gained 47.83 percent, according to the final tally released by the National Election Commission. Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party won 2.37 percent.
The president-elect celebrated with jubilant party officials at the National Assembly building, telling them that it was a victory of the great people.
He expressed thanks to his rivals, Lee and Sim, saying the whole country should work together and be united now that the election campaign has ended.
**Top 3 |**Xi holds virtual summit with leaders of France, Germany
Chinese President Xi Jinping had a virtual summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday.
Xi pointed out that the combined impact of major global changes and the pandemic, both unseen in a century, has brought multiple global challenges that need to be addressed through global cooperation.
Noting that China and the EU share much common understanding on promoting peace, seeking development and advancing cooperation, Xi said that we need to shoulder our responsibility to bring more stability and certainty to a turbulent and fluid world.
**Top 4 |**Chinese FM holds phone conversation with top EU diplomat
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday held a telephone conversation with Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU)'s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.
During their phone conversation, Borrell briefed the EU side's views and positions on the current situation in Ukraine, saying the most important thing at present is to cease fire and avoid further massive casualties.
The EU supports solving the issue through negotiations, he said.
Noting that China is a peace-loving country, he said he hopes the Chinese side can play its role in encouraging and bringing about a ceasefire, and in pushing the parties concerned to set foot on a path of negotiations and political settlement.
**Top 5 |**House passes $1.5 trillion spending plan: Ukraine aid in, COVID funding out
The House on Wednesday approved measures to ban Russian energy products, provide billions in assistance to Ukraine and fund the government through the fall -- but only after Democratic infighting forced party leaders to remove more than $15 billion in COVID aid from the package.
With the federal government set to run out of funding as soon as Friday, the $1.5 trillion package will avert a shutdown through September, while also adding billions in humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine after Russia's invasion. The House also passed a four-day stopgap measure to give the Senate time to approve the larger package.
The bill, which includes $13.6 billion in humanitarian and defense aid to Ukraine, received bipartisan support and passed 361-69 passed along party lines.
**Top 6 |**UK government accused of 'incompetent' Ukraine refugee visa program
The UK government is under pressure to do more for Ukrainian refugees as the numbers fleeing the fighting steadily increases.
Boris Johnson said that the UK had been generous and will continue to be. However, UK residents trying to get family members into the UK say the situation is chaotic.
The wave of Ukrainians fleeing their country increases every day and its neighbors have responded by mobilizing resources to support them. The UN says it's already over 2 million and climbing.
The UK Home Secretary Priti Patel assured MPs that Britain would also respond.
**Top 7 |**Zelenskyy holds telephone talks with Italy's Draghi over Russia's military operation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday held a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi over Russia's ongoing military operation in the Eastern European country.
"Discussed with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi the course of countering the aggression. Informed about the crimes of Russia against civilians, about nuclear terrorism," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.
"Raised the issue of support for Ukraine and consideration of our application for membership in the European Union."
The Ukrainian President earlier spoke to the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he continues to appeal for support for his country against Russia.
**Top 8 |**Putin tells Macron Russia to reach aims through 'negotiation or war'
Russian President Vladimir Putin told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Sunday that Moscow planned to achieve its aims in Ukraine either through diplomacy or military means, the Elysee said.
Russia would reach its objectives in Ukraine "either through negotiation or through war", Putin told Macron according to a French presidential official, adding the Russian president also pledged "it was not his intention" to attack Ukrainian nuclear sites.
**Top 9 |**Biden signs executive order banning imports of Russian oil
U.S. President Joe Biden has signed an executive order banning imports of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal to the U.S., the White House said on Tuesday.
The executive order will also prohibit Americans from financing or enabling foreign companies that are making investments to produce energy in Russia, the White House said, adding it also bans new U.S. investment in Russia's energy sector.
The imposition of an energy embargo was taken in response to Russia's military operations in Ukraine.
"This means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable to U.S. ports," the president said in remarks he delivered from the White House. He claimed the move will deal a "powerful blow" to Russia's ability to sustain funding for its military operations, while also admitting that it will backfire on Americans at home by causing continued price hikes at gas stations.
**Top 10 |**DPRK says it conducts second 'important' satellite test
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said it had conducted "another important" test for its reconnaissance satellite system, following an initial test on February 27, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday.
"Through the test, the NADA (the DPRK's National Aerospace Development Administration) confirmed the reliability of data transmission and reception system of the satellite, its control command system and various ground-based control systems," KCNA said.
As for the last test on February 27, KCNA did not elaborate on the type of rocket used in the launch, but authorities in the Republic of Korea (ROK) said it appeared to be a ballistic missile fired from an area near Pyongyang where its international airport is located.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
