Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. North Korea threatens Japan with "disaster"

North Korean President Kim Jong-un

North Korea says Japan is "deceiving" the world by fabricating a plot by Pyongyang to bomb Tokyo as a pretext for a preemptive strike. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) accused Japan of deliberately stoking tensions on the peninsula in order to invade and occupy Korea.

KCNA also said that Japanese youth are being persuaded to think that North Korea must be destroyed for the safety of the West.

"They are making desperate efforts to create an atmosphere of fear in Japanese society under the pretext of 'threats' from the DPRK. But it is just a foolish bluff," KCNA said in an article on February 26.

2. Former South Korean female president faces 30 years in prison

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye

South Korean prosecutors on February 27 demanded a 30-year prison sentence for former President Park Geun-hye. Park was removed from office in 2017 over a corruption scandal.

According to Yonhap, the prosecution also asked the Seoul Central District Court to fine Ms. Park 118.5 billion won, equivalent to 110.4 million USD. The court is expected to issue a verdict in late March or early April.

Former President Park Geun-hye, 66, was formally impeached in April last year. She was charged with 18 crimes, including abuse of power, leaking state secrets and accepting bribes.

Ms. Park was accused of colluding with her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil to take 77.4 billion won from large corporations, such as Samsung, Lotte, and SK, to give these companies business advantages.

3. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth again postpones the general election

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Source: Reuters

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on February 27 that the general election he pledged to hold in November this year will take place before February 2019.

Speaking to the press in Bangkok, Prime Minister Prayuth emphasized: "I will answer clearly, the election will take place before February 2019."
Thailand's military government has postponed the general election several times since taking power in a 2014 coup.

In the most recent delay, the election date was set for November, but in January the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) changed the election law, a sign that the election will be delayed again.

4. Five-hour ceasefire in Syria comes into effect

Scene of devastation caused by conflict in Eastern Ghouta, Syria on February 25. Source: AFP/VNA

Reuters reported that on February 27, a daily five-hour ceasefire announced by Russia took effect in Eastern Ghouta, an area currently controlled by rebel forces, near the capital Damascus, to allow people to flee the area that is the center of a fierce attack by the Syrian government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a daily ceasefire from 09:00 to 14:00 (07:00 to 12:00 GMT) and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for people to leave the Eastern Ghouta area.

Russia had previously called for a daily five-hour ceasefire, or "humanitarian pause," in the Eastern Ghouta region.

5. Singapore Prime Minister announces cabinet reshuffle

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

February 27, news agencyReutersSingapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that in the next few months he will reshuffle the cabinet to increase the responsibility of the next generation of leaders.

Last October, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was ready to step down in the next few years and that his successor could be one of the current cabinet members.

On his personal Facebook page, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong wrote: “I will reshuffle the cabinet after the recess to allow younger members to have more experience and responsibility. That way, my successor will have greater support, supported by a more experienced team, committed to taking Singapore towards a brighter, better future.”

6. Russians begin voting for president

A Russian voter in Siberia casts his ballot. Photo: Sputnik

Russian citizens in remote regions began voting on February 27 to elect a new president before the official election on March 18.

The Russian law on presidential elections stipulates that early voting may not take place more than 20 days before the official election day. Early voting allows Russian sailors and passengers on ships in foreign ports, employees at polar research stations, and Russian citizens in remote regions to vote.

Russian citizens living abroad are also allowed to vote early, but no earlier than 15 days before the official election date. This means they can vote for the president starting from March 2.

7.Saudi Arabian aircraft mistakenly bombed, killing 6 Yemeni soldiers

Saudi Arabia's F-15 fighter jets take part in the war in Yemen. Photo: Airliners.

Saudi-led coalition aircraft on February 25 mistakenly bombed a Yemeni government army base about 50 km east of the capital Sana'a. "The airstrike killed six government soldiers, including an officer,"AFPciting anonymous sources in the coalition.

The airstrike was carried out against Houthi rebels but the bombs fell on Yemeni government positions in the mountainous area of ​​Nihm, a fiercely contested area considered a gateway to the capital Sanaa, the source said.