Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. US and Russian Presidents talk on the phone about North Korea

The phone call between the Russian and US leaders comes as inter-Korean relations have warmed in recent weeks. Photo: NPR

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had a phone conversation about the situation in North Korea, a Kremlin spokesman said on February 13.

During the phone call, the US President offered to help Russia investigate the serious plane crash last weekend that killed 71 people.

The phone call comes as inter-Korean relations have warmed in recent weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered to send a delegation to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.

2.Close friend of former South Korean President sentenced to 20 years in prison

Choi Soon-sil was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Photo: Koogle TV.

On February 13, a South Korean court sentenced former South Korean President Park Geun-hye's close friend, Choi Soon-sil, the main suspect involved in the scandal that has rocked South Korean politics for more than a year, to 20 years in prison.

The court convicted Choi Soon-sil of bribery, abuse of power, and pressuring others for personal gain. Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye was removed from office after being charged with bribery, abuse of power, and sentenced to prison in March last year.

3.More than 1,000 body parts of victims of Russian plane crash found

According to Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations, debris from the plane was found in the Ramensky district, on the outskirts of Moscow. Photo: Reuters.

"A total of 1,400 body parts and 499 pieces of aircraft debris were found,"Sputnikquoted a spokesman for the crash response headquarters, yesterday. Earlier, the Ministry of Emergency Situations announced the discovery of 209 body parts. The search for the bodies of the victims of the An-148 plane that crashed near Moscow will continue for a week.

Both flight data recorders were also found, but officials have not yet released details of the data or the cause of the crash. "Fragments of the plane and bodies of passengers were scattered over a large area," said Svetlana Petrenko, a spokeswoman for Russia's Investigative Committee, adding that the area was no less than a kilometer.

4.US warns IS is seeking to seize territory in many parts of the world

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Source: AFP/TTXVN

The end of the main campaign against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) does not mean that the US and its allies have completely defeated this terrorist organization.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made the statement at a meeting of the US-led anti-terrorism coalition held on February 13 in Kuwait.
Mr. Tillerson stressed that IS remains a significant threat to the United States and other parts of the world.
According to Mr. Tillerson, IS has lost all the territory it captured in Iraq and has been defeated in Syria, but the organization is seeking to capture territory in other countries.

5."Poison letter" sent to Trump's family, daughter-in-law hospitalized

Vanessa Trump and her husband Donald Trump Jr.

New York City officials said that Vanessa Trump, wife of Donald Trump Jr., son of US President Donald Trump, was hospitalized on the morning of February 12 after coming into contact with a letter containing an unidentified white powder.

According to Sputnik, the New York Police Department said that the initial investigation results confirmed that the letter was sent to Trump Jr.'s Manhattan apartment address but was opened by Vanessa at 10 a.m. The couple is currently safe and has been evacuated.

6.North Korean leader hails South Korea for its hospitality and warmth

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has welcomed the current "warmth" in inter-Korean relations.

According to Sputnik news agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised the “warm atmosphere of reconciliation” that North Korea and South Korea have created and was further strengthened after the North Korean delegation met with South Korean officials at the Winter Olympics.

Kim also said he was “very impressed” by Seoul’s efforts to show hospitality to North Koreans, based on reports from a North Korean delegation in South Korea, KCNA said.

7.Britain sent a submarine chaser to the East Sea in March, making China angry again?

British anti-submarine frigate HMS Sutherland.

On February 13, British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said that a British submarine hunter will travel from Australia and pass through the South China Sea to return to the UK next March to assert freedom of navigation in this strategic sea area.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that according to Minister Williamson, the anti-submarine frigate HMS Sutherland will dock in Australia this weekend. The passage of HMS Sutherland through the South China Sea could anger China again.

"The ship will pass through the South China Sea (on its way home) and the British navy has the right to do so," The Australian quoted the ship as saying.Mr Williamson shared after a two-day visit to Sydney and Canberra.

8.South African President asked to resign

South African President Jacob Zuma. Photo: Leadership.

Ace Magashule, secretary-general of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), said the party's national executive committee had just decided to "remove" Mr Zuma, according toWashington PostIf he refuses the party's directive, the matter could go to parliament for a vote of no confidence.

The decision was taken after lengthy discussions by the ANC's top leadership. "We are giving him time and space to respond. We have not given him a deadline to respond," Magashule said. But he was "certain" that Mr Zuma would respond by 14 February.