Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. US issues statement on historic inter-Korean dialogue

North and South Korean officials during talks on January 9. Photo: Yonhap

The United States welcomed inter-Korean talks on North Korea’s participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and discussions on easing military tensions with South Korea, but stressed that it would continue its campaign of maximum pressure on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons.

"The United States welcomes the January 9 meeting between South Korea and North Korea to ensure the safe, secure and successful Pyeongchang Winter Olympics," Yonhap quoted State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as saying.

"The United States continues to engage with South Korean officials to ensure that members of the North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics do not violate UN Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," the State Department spokesman added.

2. South Korea is determined not to let war on the Korean Peninsula happen again.

South Korean President Moon Jae-In. Photo: Yonhap

On the morning of January 10, South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a New Year's press conference that was broadcast live on national television. Taking place one day after the first direct inter-Korean talks in two years, which were declared a great success by the North Korean side, Moon Jae-In's press conference announced his immediate strategies for the North Korean issue.

“The ultimate goal of our foreign and defense policies is to prevent the recurrence of war on the Korean Peninsula,” the South Korean president stressed. President Moon Jae-In made it clear that he is ready to hold an inter-Korean summit if appropriate conditions are met.

3. Bomb attack on police vehicle in Pakistan, 30 casualties

The scene of a suicide bombing in downtown Lahore, eastern Pakistan, that killed at least 26 people in July 2017.

A bomb exploded in the center of Quetta city in Pakistan's Balochistan province, killing seven people and wounding 23 others, Pakistani police said.

The explosion targeted a police vehicle near a high-security area that houses government offices and the provincial council.

The suicide bomber walked up to the police vehicle and detonated his explosives. Five policemen and two civilians were among the dead. The death toll could rise as some are in critical condition.

4. Boat sinks in the Mediterranean Sea, 100 people missing

A Libyan Coast Guard vessel carrying migrants after they were rescued off the coast of Libya on June 27.

The Libyan navy says 100 people are missing in the Mediterranean Sea while on a journey to Europe after their boat sank off the coast of Libya.

According to the same source, survivors of the incident said the boat was carrying 100 people. Rescuers saved 17 people, including many women.

Libya is the main departure point for illegal migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.

5. 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Caribbean, tsunami warning

Map showing the area where the earthquake occurred in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Honduras in Central America. Photo: USGS

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake has struck the Caribbean Sea off the northern coast of Honduras. A tsunami warning has been issued for the area. Radionz (New Zealand) reported that the earthquake was centered about 44km east of Great Swan Island, Honduras, at a depth of 10km.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning within 1,000 km of the epicenter. It also issued advisory-level warnings for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Lower-level warnings were also issued for the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Belize, Jamaica and Costa Rica.

6. Türkiye: US will destroy bilateral relations if it does not correct its mistakes

Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu. Photo: website-pace.

On January 10, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Türkiye's relationship with the United States is being seriously affected by the Trump administration's refusal to extradite cleric Fetullah Gulen and the country's provision of weapons to Kurdish armed groups.

Mr. Cavusoglu said that the recent actions of the US not only negatively affected the bilateral relationship between Türkiye and the US but also harmed the multilateral relationship between Türkiye and NATO allies.

Türkiye was furious after the US government refused to extradite cleric Gulen for trial because he was accused of organizing the 2016 coup. In addition, President Tayyip's government also strongly opposed the US's support and provision of weapons to the Kurdish armed forces, who are believed to belong to the Kurdistan Workers' Party with separatist ideology and oppose the government./.

7.Israel admits to having “eyes and ears” inside Iran

Israel admits to having "eyes and ears" inside Iran. Photo: Sputnik

In a closed session with the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Yossi Cohen, Director of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, said on January 10 that Israel has many people "spying" on Iranian territory.

“The Iranians are trying to exert influence across the Middle East with great force and it is very difficult to contain them,” Cohen was quoted as saying by Arutz Sheva.“We have eyes and ears, even inside Iran,” said Mr. Cohen, who warned that Iran has significant advantages in the region.

Mr Cohen's statement came just days after Iran's Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri accused Israel and the US of being behind the protests that have caused chaos in the country since late December 2017.

8.Images of drones attacking Russian military base in Syria revealed

Aircraft attacked Russian military base. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense

According toSputnik, The Russian Ministry of Defense today, January 10, released images of drones used by terrorists in Syria to attack the two military bases of Hmeymim and Tartus. The photos show that 3 devices are still intact and these devices are made of planks, wood, with connecting wires, wrapped with adhesive tape and PE plastic. In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense also provided images of debris from 3 other aircraft.

The agency said the design of the drones used by the terrorists could only have come from a technologically advanced country and warned that any country in the world could be at risk of similar attacks.

However, the Pentagon has rejected these claims, saying that such equipment can be purchased anywhere on the open market.