Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. News that North Korea "turned around" and canceled the meeting with the US in South Korea

US Vice President Mike Pence sits near North Korean delegation leader Kim Jong Nam and Kim Yo Jong, sister of President Kim Jong Un, at the Olympic opening ceremony in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Photo: Yonhap/Reuters

Vice President Mike Pence had agreed to meet with North Korean officials during the Olympics in South Korea, but Pyongyang canceled at the last minute.

The above information was just revealed by the Washington Post. According to this newspaper, the meeting was arranged to take place on February 10, but less than two hours before the meeting, the North Korean side announced its withdrawal.
This was also the day that a North Korean delegation including Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, met with South Korean President Moon Jae In and invited him to visit Pyongyang.

2. Russia accuses the US of preparing to intervene on a large scale in the presidential election.

President Putin speaks to supporters. Photo: thedogmachronicle.

The Russian news outlet Izvestia, citing the report “Intrusion” on US interference in Russian elections during the 1996-2018 presidential election campaigns, stressed that Washington is planning to use a range of tools, including disinformation, psychological operations and opposition funding. The main goal of these actions is to divide the electoral process in Russia.

According to the author of the report, also a member of the Scientific Council of the Russian Security Council, Andrei Manoilo, this is not the first US plot to interfere in the Russian presidential election.

3. After China, Japan provides large aid for Cambodia's election

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen votes in a local election in 2017. Photo: Reuters

ReutersOn February 21, Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Hidehisa Horinouchi was quoted as saying that the Cambodian National Election Committee currently needs new ballot boxes to replace a series of old ballot boxes sponsored by Tokyo 20 years ago.

“These ballot boxes are a symbol of Japan’s support for democracy in Cambodia and I hope they will bring lasting benefits for the smooth conduct of future elections. I hope Cambodia will successfully hold an election that truly reflects the will of the people,” Ambassador Horinouchi said.

The total value of these more than 10,000 ballot boxes is about 7.5 million USD. Japan is considered one of the biggest donors to the election in Cambodia.

4.Russian Deputy Foreign Minister: US-Russia relations will be difficult to mend

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Source: TASS/TTXVN

According to AFP, on February 21, Interfax news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying it would be “very difficult” to improve US-Russia relations, which have fallen to a record low since the Cold War over allegations of election interference and the crises in Syria and Ukraine.

Mr. Ryabkov accused the United States of attempting to interfere in Russia's internal affairs ahead of next month's presidential election, after Washington charged 13 Russian citizens with interfering in the 2014-2016 U.S. presidential campaign to support businessman Donald Trump and discredit his opponent Hillary Clinton.

5.South Africa: 6 people killed in police station attack

Source: thesouthafrican.com

On February 21, five police officers and a soldier were shot dead after an attack by a group of armed robbers at a police station in Queenstown, Eastern Cape province, South Africa.

Local police said the group of robbers suddenly broke into the Encobo police station in the early morning of February 21 and opened fire repeatedly on the police on duty there, then took all the weapons.

6.Malaysia arrests 10 suspects for "assisting" terrorism

Illustration photo.

On February 21, Malaysian police arrested 10 suspects of supporting terrorist rebels in the eastern state of Sabah and the southern provinces of the Philippines.

This is the second round of arrests since the beginning of the year, following a series of raids on rebels in hot spots of radical Islamic movements.
Malaysian Police Chief Inspector Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the arrests were made between January 25 and February 6.

7.Bus accidents in Sri Lanka and Peru

Bus explosion scene.

On February 21, a serious bus explosion in Diyathalawa (Sri Lanka) injured 19 people, including 12 soldiers.

Sri Lankan military spokesman Sumith Atapattu said authorities had opened an investigation into the incident and suspected it was a bomb or grenade explosion, but not a terrorist attack.
The bus was travelling from Bandarawela to Ebarawa when it crashed. The explosion reduced the bus to a charred shell but fortunately no one was killed.

Accident scene in Peru. Photo: AFP

On the same day, in Peru, a passenger bus plunged into a ravine about 100 meters deep, killing at least 44 people.

The accident occurred on a highway curve in the Ocona district. Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski sent his condolences to the victims' families and announced that emergency rescue operations had been launched.

8.Confidant of Israeli PM agrees to testify in corruption investigation

Shlomo Filber. Photo: Times of Israel.

Netanyahu's aide is expected to testify against him in an investigation into alleged corruption involving a telecommunications company.

Shlomo Filber, an ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for more than 20 years and a former official in charge of the information and communications ministry, will testify to avoid jail time, according to major Israeli news outlets. Police have not confirmed the deal, according toAFP.