North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: AP

North Korea and South Korea agreed on January 5 to hold high-level talks next week to discuss Pyongyang's participation in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The two sides decided to discuss work-level issues by exchanging documents," Baik Tae-hyun, spokesman for the Unification Ministry, said at a press briefing.

The main agenda will include how to improve long-stalled inter-Korean relations, including Olympic cooperation, Baik added.

2. China starts building super aircraft carrier bigger than US ship

China's first domestically built aircraft carrier at its launching ceremony on the morning of April 26, 2017. Photo: CCTV

China is starting construction on its 110,000-ton Type 003 supercarrier, less than a year after completing its first domestically built carrier. This will be Beijing's fourth aircraft carrier, equipped with an electromagnetic launch system (EMALS) similar to the US's advanced Ford-class aircraft carrier.SputnikJanuary 5 news.

Type-003 will enhance the combat capabilities of the Chinese naval aviation force, thanks to the application of many modern technologies, but also pose a series of unprecedented challenges. "Building the new aircraft carrier will be much more complicated than the first two. The hull construction alone will take about two years," a Chinese military source revealed.

3. 10 people died in a warehouse fire in Siberia (Russia)

Illustration photo. Source: mchs.gov.ru

Russian media reported on November 4 that at least 10 people were killed in a fire at a warehouse in a village in Siberia.

The victims of the fire are believed to be workers from China and Kyrgyzstan.

A fire broke out at a shoe factory in the village of Chernoretsky, about 2,800km east of Moscow.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said there were casualties but did not give details, while local sources said at least 10 bodies had been found. The cause of the fire is under investigation./.

4. The US wants to avoid a scenario where the conflict in Syria occurs in Iran.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Source: AFP/TTXVN

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley affirmed that the emergency meeting on January 5 about the wave of protests in Iran was aimed at avoiding the scenario of conflict in Syria taking place in the Islamic Republic.

In a statement from the US mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Haley stressed: "The UN Security Council will discuss the chaotic and dangerous situation in Iran. The world has witnessed the horrific scenes that occurred in Syria. We must not let that happen again in Iran."

Ms. Haley also affirmed that Washington considers the suppression of protesters as "a matter of international peace and security."

5. US suspends aid, puts Pakistan on special list

Pakistani protesters burn the US flag and a picture of Mr. Trump during a protest on January 2. Photo: AFP

In a statement on January 5 (Vietnam time), the US State Department emphasized that Pakistan will only receive new security aid until Islamabad takes action against the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Haqqani network.

There are growing signs that relations between the two non-treaty allies are entering a period of tension.

Hours before the aid suspension announcement, the US State Department announced it was placing Pakistan on a special watch list for "violating religious freedom". The agency, headed by Rex Tillerson, stressed that the above decisions showed the Trump administration's disappointment with Islamabad.

6. Hot air balloon carrying 20 people crashes in Egypt

Illustration photo

A hot air balloon carrying about 20 people was blown down by strong winds near the city of Luxor, Egypt, on January 5.APreported. Governor of Luxor Mahmoud Badr confirmed the accident. He was at the city hospital to check on the passengers who were brought there.

Egyptian media reported that the accident killed one person and injured 12 others. The deceased passenger was a South African national.

There have been several hot air balloon accidents in Luxor. In 2013, 19 tourists died when their balloon caught fire. In 2016, Egypt suspended the service after 22 Chinese tourists suffered minor injuries during a balloon landing.

Egypt requires hot air balloons to have surveillance cameras while flying and must not exceed an altitude of 2,000 meters.

7. New ASEAN Secretary General takes office

New ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi. Photo: ASEAN

The new ASEAN Secretary General, Mr. Lim Jock Hoi, was inaugurated and officially began his new duties in Jakarta (Indonesia) on January 5.

The ceremony was attended by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, permanent representatives of 10 ASEAN member countries, senior Indonesian officials, and representatives of diplomatic missions in Indonesia.

Mr. Lim is the second Bruneian and the 14th Secretary-General of ASEAN, for the term 2018-2022, according to the official website of ASEAN.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, new ASEAN Secretary General Lim thanked his Vietnamese predecessor, Mr. Le Luong Minh, for his worthy contributions during the 2013-2017 term.