Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. Afghan security forces destroy terrorists and rescue hostages

The Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. Getty Images, 2011.

The hostage siege at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul (Afghanistan) ended on the morning of January 21. The kidnappers were eliminated.

The information was given by Najib Danish, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior. Accordingly, 3 attackers involved in this incident were killed. 146 people, including 41 foreigners, were rescued from the hotel.

In addition, five people - including four Afghan citizens and one foreigner - were killed. Six people were injured, including three members of the Afghan security forces and three Afghan civilians.

2. North Korean advance team arrives in South Korea after last-minute cancellation

Head of the North Korean delegation Hyon Song-wol arrived in Seoul on January 21. Photo: Reuters

South Korea's YTN news channel reported that the North Korean delegation arrived in Seoul early on January 21 under close police escort. The seven-member North Korean delegation was led by Hyon Song-wol, leader of Pyongyang's famous girl group Moranbong.

According to the plan, the North Korean delegation will inspect the stage, sound system and other conditions at the venues where the art programs of North Korean artists are expected to be held. In Gangneung, the North Korean delegation is expected to visit the Gangneung Art Center and some other potential venues.

3. Russia asks Kurds to return Afrin region to Syrian government

Afrin region. Source: Reuters

On January 21, Kurdish government officials in Syria said Russia had offered to protect the Kurds if they returned the Afrin region to the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

However, the Kurds have rejected Moscow's offer. Diken radio quoted Nobahar Mustafa and Sinam Mohammad, representatives of the Syrian Kurds in Washington (USA), saying that Türkiye and Russia had an agreement before the campaign in Afrin, allowing Ankara to carry out airstrikes.

4. Türkiye bombs Syria's largest airbase

Turkish fighter jets strike Menagh air base in Syria. Photo: AMN.

According to Al Masdar News on January 21, the Turkish Air Force carried out a fierce airstrike on Syria's largest air base, Menagh, in northern Aleppo on the evening of January 20. It is known that this is the first time this military base has been bombed by a foreign country since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.

“Turkish warplanes bombed the Menagh air base near Afrin, targeting Kurdish fighters inside the base,” activists supporting the YPG militia said.

5.The whole of America protested against President Trump

People march in Seattle, Washington, January 20. Source: AFP

Millions of women in Washington and states across the United States participated in the “March for Women,” speaking out for women’s rights on January 20, the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Large-scale marches took place in Washington, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and many other cities across the United States.

In Washington, DC, the marchers poured down Pennsylvania Avenue, beating drums and singing in front of the White House.

6. US military helicopter crashes in the desert, two pilots killed

AH-64D Apache attack helicopter. Photo: Reuters

News agencyRTOn January 21, citing sources from the Pentagon, a plane crash involving a US military helicopter occurred in the California desert on January 20.

Specifically, an Apache AH-64 helicopter of the 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson (Colorado, USA) crashed into the California desert, near the National Training Center at Fort Irwin during a combat readiness training flight.The accident killed the captain and co-pilot.

7.Revealing the Russian shield that "accepts" all US ballistic missiles

The latest missile defense system A-235 Nudol.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has released a video of the tests of the latest A-235 Nudol missile defense system. Military expert Alexey Leonkov tells about the basic advantages of this system and its destructive capabilities.

This missile defense system has only just undergone testing and its tactical and technical features have not yet been revealed, but expert Alexey Leonkov believes that, in terms of range and altitude, Nudol is actually superior to its predecessor systems A-135 Amur currently in service with the Russian Army.