US President Donald Trump (left) and Kim Jong-un. Photo: Reuters

On January 6, US President Donald Trump announced his readiness to speak by phone with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Donald Trump also hopes for positive results from talks between South Korea and North Korea scheduled for next week after Washington and Seoul agreed to postpone military exercises.

Speaking to reporters at Camp David, President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but not unconditionally.

2. Cambodia commemorates Victory Day over the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen delivered a speech at the ceremony.

On the morning of January 7th, at the Koh Pich Island Convention and Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) solemnly celebrated the 39th anniversary of the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7th. This was the largest commemorative ceremony ever held, with tens of thousands of people in attendance.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Hun Sen emphasized the significance and purpose of the event, which was to express profound gratitude to the heroic soldiers and patriots of the Cambodian National United Front for National Salvation and the Vietnamese volunteer army, who bravely fought and sacrificed their lives in the struggle to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

3. Oil tanker sinks in China, 32 people missing.

Illustration photo: AP.

On January 7, China's Ministry of Transport announced that 32 crew members, including 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis, were missing after two oil tankers and cargo ships collided in waters off eastern China on the evening of January 6.

The accident occurred when a Panama-registered oil tanker collided with a Hong Kong-registered cargo ship at 8 p.m. on January 6th, 160 nautical miles east of the Yangtze River estuary. The collision resulted in 32 crew members of the oil tanker going missing, while all 21 crew members of the cargo ship were rescued.

4. Revealing the identity of the leader of the North Korean delegation participating in the negotiations.

The talks, scheduled to take place on January 9th at the truce village of Panmunjom, are raising hopes for a potential improvement in inter-Korean relations. (Illustrative photo: AP)

On January 7, North Korea informed South Korea that it would send a five-person delegation, led by Ri Son-gwon, head of North Korea's agency responsible for inter-Korean affairs, to participate in the negotiations.

This will be the first official talks between the two Koreas in over two years. The talks, scheduled for January 9th at the truce village of Panmunjom, are raising hopes for improved inter-Korean relations following North Korea's successive nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches in 2017.

5. Massacre in Senegal leaves 13 dead.

Illustration photo: AFP.

At least 13 people were killed and seven others injured in a brutal massacre that occurred on January 6 in the town of Ziguinchor, in southern Senegal.

Immediately after the massacre, the Senegalese army reinforced its forces in the area where the killings occurred, searching for the separatist rebels.

Although there is no official information, the Senegalese military suspects that the separatist group known as the Democratic Forces Movement, founded in 1982 by Casamance, is behind the attack.

6. Saudi Arabia: Demanding to reclaim privileges, 11 princes arrested.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's tough policies have caused internal tensions within the royal family. Photo: NDTV

Saudi Arabian authorities have detained 11 princes who were protesting against the government's decision to suspend some subsidies for members of the royal family, NDTV reported on January 7.

In a protest, 11 Saudi princes demonstrated outside the Qasr al-Hokm palace in Riyadh, demanding that the government reverse its reform decisions and pay compensation related to the execution of Prince Turki bin Saud al-Kabeer, their cousin, in 2016.

7. British Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet is about to undergo a shake-up.

British Prime Minister Theresa May. Photo: Evening Standard.

Reuters reported on January 7th that British Prime Minister Theresa May will announce several cabinet changes on January 8th.

However, according to the Sunday Times, the Ministers for Finance, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, and Brexit will not be changed. The aim of this reshuffle by British Prime Minister Theresa May is to bring several young women into the Cabinet, seeking voter support for her government.

It is highly likely that Conservative Party leader Patrick McLoughlin, Education Minister Justine Greening, Business Minister Greg Clark, and Speaker of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom will be replaced.

8. Explosion outside a subway station in Stockholm.

The scene of the explosion. Source: mirror.co.uk

Swedish authorities said two people were injured in an explosion outside Varby Gard metro station in southern Stockholm on January 7.

According to a police spokesperson, an object exploded after someone picked it up. The spokesperson stressed that there was no basis to suggest the incident was related to terrorism.
Varby Gard subway station and the nearby square were closed while security forces conducted checks.