Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. North Korean delegation attends luncheon hosted by South Korean prime minister

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on February 11 hosted a luncheon for a delegation of North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong-un's sister.

The luncheon hosted by South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon took place at the Walker Hill Hotel in eastern Seoul. The North Korean delegation, led by National Assembly Speaker Kim Yong-nam, consisted of 22 people, including Kim Yo-jong, sister of leader Kim Jong-un.

The North Korean delegation visited the Blue House on February 10 to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Mr. Moon also hosted a luncheon for the delegation. The delegation conveyed an invitation to Mr. Moon to visit North Korea from leader Kim Jong-un.

2.Sword-wielding students attack church service in Indonesia

Indonesian police investigate at St. Lidwina Bedhog Trihanggo church after the incident. Source: AFP/TTXVN

On February 11, at least four people were seriously injured when a man with a sword attacked a church in Yogyakarta province on Indonesia's Java island.

The attack occurred during a service attended by 100 people at St. Lidwina Bedhog Trihanggo Church in Sleman, Yogyakarta province. Among those injured was a police officer.
The attacker also used a 1m long sword to destroy some statues and furniture in the church. Not long after, the police arrived at the scene and controlled the subject.
Police said the perpetrator was a student in his 20s, but did not confirm whether his actions were related to terrorism.

3.Gunfight for more than 30 hours on Kashmir border

Indian Border Guard soldiers patrol the RS Pora border area in southwestern Jammu state, February 2016. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Six people were killed (including five soldiers) and nine civilians were injured in a gunfight between Indian soldiers and rebels in Jammu and Kashmir state.

Fighting broke out when heavily armed militants opened fire and threw grenades inside the Sunjuwan camp in Jammu, the second largest city in the disputed Kashmir region bordering Pakistan.

Hundreds of police, soldiers and paramilitary forces rushed to the scene to repel the gunmen. After more than 30 hours of fighting, Indian forces killed four militants.terrorism, seized AK-47s and other weapons.

3.Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin and Yingluck appear in China

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra in a supermarket believed to be in Beijing, China. Photo: Matichon Online.

Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, are said to be in Beijing, China, preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, posted a photo of Mr. Thaksin standing next to a New Year symbol and a statue of two children wearing traditional Chinese costumes on social media on February 10.Bangkok Postreport

"From Beijing, I would like to send early Lunar New Year greetings to all Thai people," the message posted with the photos read.

4.Plane carrying 71 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Moscow airport

A Saratov Airlines plane. Source: Sputnik

According to local media, a plane carrying 71 people crashed shortly after taking off from an airport in the capital Moscow, Russia.

RT news agency and Russian media quoted information from the country's emergency services as saying that an Antonov An-148 of Saratov Airlines, carrying 65 passengers and six crew members, went missing shortly after taking off from Moscow's Domodedovo airport.
"The plane crashed outside the village of Argunovo, on the outskirts of Moscow," the source told Interfax news agency. "The crew and passengers had no chance of survival."

According to Russian news agency RT, the country's authorities have officially opened a criminal investigation into the case.plane crashThis.

5.President Rouhani calls for a 'year of unity' in Iran

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Source: THX/TTXVN

On February 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for a year of unity in the country as Iran celebrated the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution (February 11, 1979) after a series of protests broke out recently.

Speaking at a rally to celebrate the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in the capital Tehran, President Rouhani suggested that the new year - the 40th year since the Iranian Islamic Revolution - will be a year of unity among all parties, people, conservatives, reformists and moderates.

6.Egypt launches anti-terrorism campaign in Sinai Peninsula

Egyptian soldiers and army mobilized to fight terrorism in Sinai. Photo: Al Ah-ram.

The Egyptian military said on February 11 it had killed 16 extremist jihadists and arrested 34 others as part of a counter-terrorism operation in the northern and central Sinai Peninsula.

Launched less than two months before Egypt's presidential election, the operation, dubbed "Sinai 2018," involved both the air force and navy, taking place in and around the Sinai Peninsula.

7.Double-decker bus overturned in Hong Kong, 18 people died

Rescue workers search for people trapped in an overturned car. Photo: South China Morning Post.

Eighteen people were killed and 61 injured when a double-decker bus overturned in Hong Kong on the night of February 10. The accident, which took place on Tai Po Road, Hong Kong, was Hong Kong's deadliest traffic accident in nearly 15 years.

The dead included 15 men and three women. The 61 injured were taken to 12 public hospitals across the city. Ten people are in critical condition and 15 others are seriously injured.