World last 7 days - featured news

1. Situation on the Korean Peninsula

North Korean cheerleaders attend the Asian Athletics Championships in Incheon, South Korea, in 2005. Photo: Yonhap.

Last week, the Korean Peninsula continued to be "hot". North Korea canceled sending an art troupe to South Korea to perform at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics on February 4. However, the North Korean cheerleading squad will still participate in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

Despite sanctions, North Korea continues to build its nuclear arsenal. Pyongyang also issued threats to the United States, warning President Donald Trump to "back off and leave Pyongyang alone or face the consequences."

2. The US President reads the State of the Union Address

US President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address at Congress on January 30. Photo: AFP.

President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address to the US Congress on January 30. The White House boss wanted to send a message of "building a safe, strong and proud America". Trump also invited many special guests, considered to represent his goals, such as homeland security agent CJ Martinez, Preston Sharp, the grandson of a deceased veteran, the parents of American student Otto Warmbier and Ji Seong-ho, a North Korean defector.

There has never been a better time to live the American dream than now. Americans, no matter where they come from, if they work hard, believe in themselves, believe in America, they can dream anything, be anything, and together.

3. Unexpected developments in the Doan Thi Huong case

Malaysian police escort Indonesian suspect Siti Aisyah to court on January 22. Photo: Reuters

According to an Indonesian lawyer, Ms. Siti Aisyah - who is charged with killing Mr. Kim Jong Nam, was hired to "act in a TV show" by a suspect who is wanted by Malaysian police.

According to Reuters news agency, that was the defense of Indonesian lawyer for defendant Siti Aisyah before Malaysian court on January 30.

Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong are accused of killing Kim Jong Nam by smearing the nerve agent VX on his face. If convicted, they could face the death penalty.Lawyers claim the girls thought they were acting out a prank for a TV show, unaware they were poisoning Mr Kim.

To meet people's travel needs, China has built 3,000 km of new railways.

The return of Chinese people working far away to their hometowns for Tet has been likened to a "mass migration" in the spring, putting considerable pressure on the transportation system.

The Lunar New Year is considered the most important traditional holiday in China. During this time, most people working far from home will return home for family reunions, putting a lot of pressure on the transportation system.

To meet people's travel needs, China has built 3,000 km of new railways. China's railway network reached 127,000 km by the end of 2017, including 25,000 km of high-speed rail, according to Xinhua.

Beijing, Guangzhou and the Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou areas are expected to be the hotspots for train passengers before the Lunar New Year. The five hotspots after the Lunar New Year include Chengdu, Wuhan, Nanchang, Hunan and Anhui.

Train carrying 100 US congressmen crashed into truck.

A train carrying about 100 Republican lawmakers crashed into a truck in Virginia, USA, on January 31.The train was traveling from Washington, D.C., to a resort in rural Virginia. The accident occurred when the train was about 200 kilometers from Washington.

The collision caused the truck to be deformed. Three people in the truck were injured, one died, one was seriously injured and the other suffered minor injuries. The train was traveling from Washington, D.C. to a resort in rural Virginia. The accident occurred when the train was about 200 km from Washington.

In addition, two crew members and two passengers were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. No one in the congressional delegation was seriously injured.

6.Bombing in Afghanistan: More than 250 casualties

A person injured in the bombing is helped into an ambulance. Photo: Reuters

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has strongly condemned the bombing, which is considered one of the most serious suicide attacks in the country in recent times.

The suicide bomber drove the ambulance through a security checkpoint into the center of the capital, claiming to be transporting a patient. But when he reached another checkpoint near an area with many government buildings and offices of several important agencies such as the Afghan Interior Ministry, the European Union (EU) and the Afghan High Peace Council, he was stopped because of many suspicious signs. He then detonated the vehicle. In a new post on Twitter, the Taliban insurgent group claimed responsibility for the incident.

7.Russia commemorates 75th anniversary of Battle of Stalingrad

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the historic victory at Stalingrad in the city of Volgograd. Source: AFP/VNA

On February 2, 2018, Russia marked the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Red Army's victory over the Nazis at the Battle of Stalingrad, a major turning point in World War II and a symbol of national pride and patriotism that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to demonstrate as he runs for a fourth term.

About 1,500 Russian soldiers dressed in World War II and modern uniforms took part in the parade along with tanks, including the famous T-34, a symbol of victory over Nazi Germany.