Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. Two French military helicopters collided, 5 people died

Photo illustration by Sputnik.

At least five people have died after two helicopters from a French military training school crashed in southern France.

According to local officials, the accident occurred in the southeastern Var area. Rescuers are currently searching for one person missing in the accident.The cause of the crash is not yet known. However, officials confirmed that both planes belonged to the Ealat Military Airfield, which trains pilots for the army and other military services.

2. Cambodia proposes to remove the position of Minister of State from the Government

Cambodian Government meeting on the morning of February 2

On the morning of February 2, the Cambodian Government held a plenary session to discuss and comment on the Draft Amended Constitution prepared by the country's Ministry of Justice.

The original Cambodian law has 16 chapters and 158 articles, which have been amended six times. This time, Cambodia amended articles 34, 42, 49, 53 and 118 related to issues such as elections, candidacy, establishment of associations, groups and political parties.

In this draft, the Cambodian Government proposed that the drafting unit remove the title of Secretary of State in ministries and branches from the Government membership.

3. North Korea warns it will “not sit idly by” if the US and South Korea resume military exercises

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. Photo: AP.

The North Korean government warned on February 2 that if the US and South Korea continue with plans for joint military exercises after the Winter Olympics, the country will not sit idly by.

The statement came as North Korea suspended its missile testing plans in late November 2017 to open the door for inter-Korean dialogue. The first talks in nearly two years have eased tensions on the Korean peninsula after a year of escalating rhetoric between the US and North Korea.

In a letter to the United Nations, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho stressed that whenever joint military exercises take place, peace and security on the Korean peninsula are seriously threatened.

4. The No. 3 diplomat in the Trump administration resigns.

US diplomat Shannon. Photo: NBC News.

The third-ranking official in the US State Department, Tom Shannon, announced on February 1 that he would resign.

This is the latest case of a senior US diplomat announcing his resignation since President Donald Trump took office a year ago.

In the US State Department, Mr. Shannon holds the position of Under Secretary for Political Affairs. He is a veteran diplomat, serving in this service for 34 years, corresponding to 6 US Presidents and 10 US Secretaries of State.

In a letter to US diplomatic staff, Mr. Shannon, 60 years old, said he resigned for personal reasons.

5. The eldest son of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro committed suicide.

The eldest son of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Mr. Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart. Photo: AFP.

The eldest son of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, committed suicide on February 1 after a long period of treatment for depression.

Cuba's official newspaper Cubadebate reported on January 2: "Mr. Diaz-Balart had been treated by a team of doctors for several months for depression and committed suicide on the morning of February 1 in Havana."

Mr. Castro Junior, 68 years old, is known by another name, Fidelito, because he has many similarities with his father - leader Fidel Castro.

6.Japan and US fail in testing new interceptor missile

Illustration photo. Source: SpaceNews

On February 2, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said that Japan and the United States had failed twice when testing a new interceptor missile that the two countries jointly developed to deal with North Korea.ballistic missileChosen.

Responding to reporters, Minister Onodera said that the test of the new generation SM3 Block 2A interceptor missile in Hawaii on January 31 failed. Thus, in a total of 3 tests so far, this new missile has failed twice in a row. However, Minister Onodera added that this failed test seemed to be due to human factors rather than technical factors. Therefore, both sides will carefully analyze the cause of the failure.

7.Boat capsizes off Libya, dozens feared drowned

Migrants are rescued by Spanish rescue forces in the waters off Libya in November 2017. Source: AFP/TTXVN

Reuters news agency quoted the announcement of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), estimating 90migrantsare feared to have drowned off the coast of Libya after a smuggling boat carrying them capsized early on February 2. Three people survived and 10 bodies have washed ashore since the incident.

IOM spokeswoman Olivia Headon said survivors told aid workers that most of the migrants were Pakistanis who were headed to Italy.
"They gave an estimate of 90 people drowning in the capsize, but we still have to verify the exact number of victims in this tragedy," Ms Headon said.

8.Russia warns citizens of risk of arrest and extradition to the US

Illustration photo. Source: Reuters

Relations between Russia and the United States are at risk of further escalating tensions. On February 1, Moscow issued a travel warning, advising Russian citizens to consider carefully before traveling abroad, due to the risk of arrest and extradition to the United States.

The Russian Foreign Ministry statement said that despite Russia's calls for improved cooperation between the two sides' ministries, since the beginning of 2017, more than 10 Russian citizens have been detained abroad with the intervention of the United States.
Specifically, at least four Russians have been arrested in Spain, Latvia and Greece for being accused by the US of being cyber criminals.
US action against Russian citizens suspected of cybercrime hit a record high last year.

8. President Putin reveals plans if he is not re-elected

Russian President Putin

RT news agency reported that on February 2, Russian President Putin visited the Rostselmash agricultural equipment manufacturing plant. Here, the Russian leader had experiences with a rice harvester.

President Putin says his career could take a different direction if he is not re-elected.

“If things don’t go well, I’ll start working as a harvester driver after March 18,” he said jokingly, referring to next month’s election.President Putin officially announced his plan to run for re-election as an independent candidate in early December 2017.