Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. President Trumpsigned a bill to reopen the US government

US President Donald Trump. Photo: Business Insider.

On February 9, Mr. Trump signed the federal budget bill submitted by Congress, helping the US government reopen after many hours of closure.Reutersreport

The bill was passed by the US Congress a few hours after the US government shut down at midnight on February 9. This is the second US government shutdown in less than a month.

The bill passed the Senate with support from Democrats, despite opposition from 67 Republicans in the House, who objected to the bill's increase in non-military spending.

2.South Korean President meets leader Kim Jong-un's sister

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong-Nam (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, arrive at Incheon International Airport on February 9. Source: YONHAP/VNA

Yonhap/AFP reported on February 9 that at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang (South Korea), host country President Moon Jae-in had a quick meeting with Ms. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Ms. Kim Yo Jong is the first and only member of the Kim family to visit South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953.
She shook hands with President Moon as he arrived for the opening ceremony of the Olympics at the pentagonal stadium in PyeongChang.

3. US drone kills senior Taliban leader

Senior Taliban leader Sajna Mehsud.

Kyodo news agency quoted local media as saying that senior Pakistani Taliban deputy leader Sajna Mehsud and his assistant were killed in a US drone strike on the night of February 8 in Pakistan's North Waziristan region, bordering Afghanistan.

The source quoted Pakistani government officials as confirming that Sajna Mehsud - the second-highest leader of the militant group officially known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, was killed in an attack in the Gordeki area, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

4.Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony is Bright and Modern

Two North Korean and South Korean athletes holding flags, leading the joint parade of the two delegations. Photo: Reuters

The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (Korea) opened on the evening of February 9 at the Olympic Stadium in Pyeongchang town, (Gangwon-do province, Korea).

At the opening ceremony, the two Korean and North Korean delegations marched together under the unified flag, adding to the strength of the host country's message of peace. The highlight of the opening ceremony, as usual, was the torch lighting ceremony.

This year, the host country, South Korea, has made the most of modern technology to serve the torch lighting ceremony, making this ceremony more spectacular. The person who had the honor of lighting the torch on the Olympic cauldron was the "icon" of Korean sports, figure skater Kim Yuna.

5.French Defense Minister Calls for Humanitarian Corridor in Syria

French Defense Minister Florence Parly. Source: AFP

Reuters reported that French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on February 9 that Paris wanted airstrikes in Syria to end and called for humanitarian corridors to be opened as soon as possible.

"We are very concerned and are following the situation on the ground very carefully. The air strikes must stop," Minister Florence Parly told France Inter radio, without giving further details on the matter.

6.KCNA confirms North Korean military chief removed from office

General Hwang Pyong So. Source: Reuters

On February 9, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that the head of the North Korean army, General Hwang Pyong So, had been dismissed after South Korean media published similar information, citing allegations of corruption.

In its report on the parade in Pyongyang a day earlier, KCNA introduced Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Jong Gak as vice marshal and director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, a position previously held by Mr. Hwang.

7.Egyptian Army Launches Operation Sinai to Clear Out Terrorism

Egyptian security forces investigate at the scene of a suicide attack in El-Arish, Sinai Peninsula. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

On February 9, the Egyptian army announced the launch of a major campaign in the Nile Delta and the Sinai Peninsula, northern Egypt and the center of persistent violence caused by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization.

In a statement, the Egyptian military said police and soldiers have been placed on the highest alert during Operation Sinai 2018.
The aim of the campaign is to tighten control over border districts and clear out areas with terrorist dens.

8.South Korean and Japanese leaders hold talks ahead of Olympics opening

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Source: AP

On February 9, South Korean President Moon Jae-in held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Yongpyeong resort, just hours before both leaders attended the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

This is the third bilateral summit since President Moon took office in May 2017.
At the meeting, the South Korean President called on both sides to make efforts to build a friendly and cooperative bilateral relationship towards the future, but to "frankly" acknowledge the historical period that the two countries have gone through together.