Asia Pacific Daily News - Focus on Asia-Pacific Development, Daily News Express, Scholar Creation Center

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 | U.S. CIA director says DPRK nearly capable of nuclear attack

U.S. CIA director Mike Pompeo has said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) is a few months away from perfecting its nuclear weapons capabilities.

“They are close enough now in their capabilities that from a US policy perspective we ought to behave as if we are on the cusp of them achieving” their objective of being able to strike the United States, Pompeo told a national security forum in Washington.

But he said there was a difference between having the ability to fire a single nuclear missile and the capability of producing large amounts of fissile material and developing an arsenal of such weapons.

Top 2 | Japanese PM Abe sends ritual offering to notorious Yasukuni Shrine

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday on the occasion of its annual autumn festival.

Abe himself is reportedly to refrain from visiting the notorious shrine during the festival in person in an effort to prevent further damage to Japan's relationship with China and South Korea at a time Japan and the region is facing heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Abe once again sent a "masakaki" tree as an offering under the name of the prime minister. The potted tree is used here in ceremonies involving Shintoism.

Top 3 | China: The 19th CPC National Congress opens in Beijing

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened Wednesday as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a "new era."

Xi Jinping is delivering a report titled "Secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era."

The theme of the congress is to "Remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind, hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and work tirelessly to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation."

Top 4 | Sebastian Kurz: Austrian conservative set to be world's youngest leader

Austria's conservative People's Party, led by 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, is set to win the country's general election, projections suggest.

Mr Kurz is on course to become the world's youngest national leader.

The People's Party was set to win more than 31%. It is so far unclear whether the Social Democrats or the far-right Freedom Party will finish second.

Top 5 | S.Korea to send deputy nuke envoy to Russia, may encounter DPRK diplomat

South Korea's foreign ministry said Thursday that it will send a deputy nuclear envoy for the currently stalled six-party talks to a Russia-hosted forum, where a senior Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) diplomat would reportedly participate.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told a regular press briefing that Lee Sang-hwa, director general for the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue at the foreign Ministry, will visit Russia to attend the Nonproliferation Conference to be held in Moscow on Oct. 20-21.

Lee doubles as South Korea's deputy chief negotiator at the six-way talks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. The aid-for-disarmament dialogue, which involved the two Koreas, China, the United States, Russia and Japan, was last held in late 2008.

Top 6 | German parties express optimism after first day's coalition negotiations

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Greens have drawn a positive conclusion from their first day of coalition negotiations on Wednesday night.

The CDU/CSU parliamentary faction held separate talk with the FDP and Greens concerning the formation of Germany's next federal government over the course of Wednesday.

"Those were two good conversations from the perspective of the CDU", CDU secretary general Peter Tauber told German press.

Tauber added that he looked forward to a second larger round of talks including all potential "Jamaica" coalition partners on Friday with "joyful anticipation".

Top 7 | Former S. Korea president calls her trial 'political revenge'

Ousted South Korean president Park Geun-hye said on Monday that her corruption trial is "political revenge in the name of the rule of law," Yonhap News Agency reported.

Park made the remarks during the first court hearing since her detention was extended last week for another six months.

It was the first time that she has spoken during a court hearing since she was arrested in March in the massive corruption scandal involving her long-time friend Choi Soon-sil.

She said the past six months have been a "horrible and miserable time" for her, as she appeared at court hearings four times a week.

Top 8 | Putin signs decree to impose restrictions on Pyongyang

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to impose a number of bans on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in compliance with the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2321, Russia's legal document portal published Monday.

Russia imposed sanctions on 11 DPRK individuals and 10 companies involved in Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, according to the decree.

It banned exports to the DPRK of 80 chemical substances and types of equipment and software that may be used to produce nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.

Top 9 | Philippine President Duterte declares liberation of Marawi City

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday declared Marawi City "liberated from terrorists" after a five-month battle against militants loyal to ISIL.

Duterte made the declaration in a rain-soaked speech to troops in Marawi where they have been fighting the militants in clashes that have claimed more than 1,000 lives and displaced 400,000 people.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare Marawi liberated from the terrorists," Duterte said.

The president's visit comes a day after two leaders of the rebel alliance were killed.

Top 10 | Fake wife? Melania Trump body double conspiracy

Conspiracy theorists on Twitter think Melania Trump was replaced by a body double as her husband addressed the media last week.

Twitter users say the woman standing next to President Donald Trump as he spoke on the White House lawn on Friday did not look like his wife.

This is not Melania. To think they would go this far & try & make us think its her on TV is mind blowing. Makes me wonder what else is a lie pic.twitter.com/JhPVmXdGit, siad by BuyLegalMeds.com (@JoeVargas) October 18, 2017