Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. Governor of the Central Bank of Latvia arrested for corruption

Governor of the Central Bank of Latvia Ilmars Rimsevics. Photo: AP

The Latvian Prime Minister's Office issued a statement today that the country's Central Bank Governor Ilmars Rimsevics has been arrested by anti-corruption authorities.

According to Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis, the Latvian Anti-Corruption Agency has informed about the situation of the Governor of the Central Bank. The office and residence of Mr. IIlmars Rimsevics were also inspected by the authorities earlier.

The arrest of the Central Bank Governor was made to serve an investigation after allegations of corruption. The National Security Council is expected to meet next week to discuss the situation in the banking sector following the decision to arrest the Central Bank Governor./.

2. Passenger plane crashes in Iran, 66 people killed

Illustration photo: UPI

On February 18, a passenger plane crashed in central Iran while en route from the capital Tehran to the southwestern city of Yasuj.

Iranian media reported that the plane crashed in a mountainous area near the town of Semirom. Iran's state-run PressTV said that there were a total of 66 people on board the ill-fated plane. The cause of the accident is currently unknown./.

3. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu affirms tough stance on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Source: AFP/TTXVN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that if necessary, Israel will take action against Iran, not just Tehran's allies. The statement came after Israel announced it had intercepted an Iranian drone entering Israeli airspace earlier this month.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference taking place in Munich, Germany, on February 18, the Israeli leader said that Iran is increasing its power in the Middle East after the US-led coalition against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization has regained territories occupied by IS.

4. Russian court rejects petition to disqualify Putin from presidential race

Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak (left) and current Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Sputnik

According toRT, a petition was sent in mid-February to the Russian Supreme Court requesting that Mr. Putin be removed from the list of Russian presidential candidates in the March 2018 election. The petitioner was female journalist, social activist, and presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak of the Civic Platform party.

In her application, Ms. Sobchak said she did not object to the current political situation in Russia. However, the reason she gave in the lawsuit was that she believed Mr. Putin had served as president “too many times,” including three times in the official position and once in the interim position in early 2000 before his first election as president.

5. Israel arrests people planning to attack Defense Minister

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Source: AFP/TTXVN

According to AFP, on February 18, the Shin Bet security agency announced that IsraellSix Palestinians were arrested on suspicion of planning attacks on Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and other Israeli citizens in the West Bank.

The Shin Bet said the six men were linked to a jihadist militia and were operating in the Bethlehem area where they were attempting to open fire on Israeli security forces and civilians. Some of them had also planned to attack Lieberman's car as he was returning home to a West Bank settlement.

6. Shooting at festival in Russia, 5 people killed

Members of the Russian security forces. Photo: Sputnik.

The attacker used a hunting rifle to repeatedly fire at a group of people in the city of Kizlyar in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan.RTThe shooting took place in the area where people were celebrating the end of the Maslenitsa winter festival. The shooter was killed at the scene after killing four people. The Russian Interior Ministry said three people were injured, but local health officials said five people had been taken to hospital.

A witness said the attacker deliberately aimed his gun at people leaving the Catholic church. However, many quickly retreated back inside for cover, giving security forces more time to react.

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