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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 need to know:
Top 1 | S.Korean court issues warrant to arrest ex-president Lee Myung-bak
A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant Thursday for former President Lee Myung-bak on bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion and other charges.
Lee is set to be taken to a Seoul detention center, becoming the nation's fourth former president to be arrested for corruption. The 77-year-old former conservative leader faces at least 12 charges, including taking more than 11 billion won (US$10.2 million) in bribes from the state spy agency and businesses.
He has denied all charges and claimed no knowledge of the alleged crimes. He called the investigation "political revenge" by the liberal Moon Jae-in administration.
Top 2 | Trump announces $60 billion trade sanctions and tariffs on China
Citing a systemic, state-sponsored system of intellectual property theft, the Trump Administration has begun investigating whether to impose about $60 billion worth of sanctions on China.
A Senior Trump Administration Official accused China of imposing unfair restrictions and regulations on foreign companies seeking to do business in China.
President Donald Trump is giving the United States Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, 15 days to recommend whether to impose tariffs on China and in which sectors. In addition, the United States is planning to file complaints against China at the World Trade Organization.
Top 3 | Zuckerberg: 'We made mistakes' over Cambridge Analytica scandal
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has admitted his company "made mistakes" over the alleged misuse of users' data. The social media giant's chief executive posted a long statement on his Facebook page explaining the steps he has taken, and will continue to take, to protect users.
Facebook saw $46 billion wiped off its value amid concerns over the alleged harvesting of user data by UK political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica.
Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by Donald Trump's campaign team, has been accused of illegally harvesting the personal data of 50 million Facebook users. Facebook is currently facing investigations by authorities in the UK, EU and the US and Mr Zuckerberg has been sent a formal request to appear before MPs and answer questions on the matter.
Top 4 | Trump breaks ranks to congratulate Putin, plans meeting in near future
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will probably meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, who won Sunday's Russian presidential election in a landslide victory "in the not too distant future."
Trump said that they could discuss the arms race between Washington and Moscow and also talk about issues including Ukraine, Syria and the Korean Peninsula.
The White House said in a statement that, in their phone call earlier on Tuesday, Trump and Putin discussed bilateral relations, resolving to continue dialogue about mutual national security priorities and challenges.
Top 5 | French ex-president Sarkozy in custody in campaign funding probe
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was placed in custody on Tuesday as part of an investigation that he received millions of euros in illegal financing from the regime of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Sarkozy and his former chief of staff have denied wrongdoing in the case, which involves funding for his winning 2007 presidential campaign.
Though an investigation has been underway since 2013, the case gained traction some three years later when French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine told the online investigative site, Mediapart, that he delivered suitcases from Libya containing 5 million euros ($6.2 million) in cash to Sarkozy and his former chief of staff Claude Gueant.
Top 6 | Putin re-elected Russian president, early poll data confirms
Incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin won 76.6 percent of ballots after 99.83 percent of votes had been counted in the presidential election Sunday, Central Election Commission (CEC) chair Ella Pamfilova confirmed Monday.
In accordance with the law, a candidate garnering more than half of the votes goes to the Kremlin.
Communist Party candidate Pavel Grudinin, Putin's nearest rival, got 11.9 percent of votes, while the head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, received 5.66 percent, according to the CEC. Five other candidates gained substantially less support.
Top 7 | Andrew McCabe: Ex-FBI deputy director gave notes to Russia inquiry
Ex-FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe has given memos about conversations he had with President Donald Trump to an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, US media say.
They say the memos could support allegations that the president sought to obstruct justice. Mr McCabe was fired from the FBI on Friday following an internal inquiry. Mr Trump had accused him of bias.
The president has also dismissed the Russia investigation as a "witch hunt". The investigation is led by special counsel Robert Mueller, himself a former FBI director. He has so far indicted 19 people.
Top 8 | Xi Jinping unanimously elected Chinese president, CMC chairman
Xi Jinping was elected Chinese president by a unanimous vote Saturday morning at the ongoing session of the 13th National People's Congress.
Xi, 64, was also elected chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) by a unanimous vote.
Right after the election, Xi took a public oath of allegiance to the Constitution in the Great Hall of the People. This was the first time for a Chinese president to take such an oath upon assuming office.
Top 9 | Kim Jong-un has committed to denuclearisation, says South Korea
South Korea’s foreign minister has said that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK)’s leader has “given his word” that he is committed to denuclearization, a prime condition for a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in May.
Trump has agreed to what would be historic talks after South Korean officials relayed that Kim Jong-un was committed to ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons and was willing to halt nuclear and missile tests.
The meeting in Finland follows three days of talks between DPRK and Swedish officials in Stockholm that apparently fell short of clearing the way for a US-DPRK summit attended by both nation’s leaders.
Top 10 | Trump replaces McMaster as national security adviser with John Bolton
National security adviser H.R. McMaster has agreed to resign and will be replaced by former US ambassador and Fox News analyst John Bolton, President Donald Trump announced in a tweet on Thursday.
Bolton is a stalwart of Republican national security circles known for his hawkish views.
"I am thankful to President Donald J. Trump for the opportunity to serve him and our nation as national security advisor. I am grateful for the friendship and support of the members of the National Security Council who worked together to provide the President with the best options to protect and advance our national interests," the statement said.
Related:
APD Review | Trump-Kim Meeting: Working Collaboratively or Conspiring Respectively?
Will Trump's recent firings prompt more hardline foreign policy?
APD Review | Trump intoxicates global trade with unfair tariffs, triggers outcry
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
