The world in the last 7 days - the most prominent news.

1. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have eased.

The chief negotiators from South Korea (left) and North Korea during a meeting at Panmunjom on January 9, 2018.

After more than a year of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the world witnessed high-level talks between North Korea and South Korea on January 9th. This was the first time in two years that high-level talks between Pyongyang and Seoul took place at the Peace House within the Joint Security Area (DMZ).

The main theme was North Korea's decision to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.Seoul said it would also present ways to improve inter-Korean relations.

2.Chinese military launches missiles, conducts large-scale exercises.

The Chinese military has just launched a series of high-precision missiles.

On January 9, the Chinese military tested a series of short- and medium-range missiles with high accuracy and conducted unprecedented large-scale exercises nationwide at 4,000 military bases.

According to observers, the missiles tested were the DF-11 and DF-16, capable of flying up to 1,000 km. The DF-16 is a much more modern version of the DF-11 surface-to-air missile. This type of missile has been deployed to the Eastern Military District.

Previously, the country's armed forces had conducted regular exercises in response to a call from President Xi Jinping.

3.Chinese warships approach disputed islands; Japan protests.

A Chinese Type 054A frigate. Photo: Wikipedia.

On January 11, Japanese naval vessels spotted a 4,000-ton Type 054A (NATO designation Jiangkai II) Chinese frigate near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.

Japanese Defense Ministry spokesman Go Yamaguchi said there was also a submarine of unknown nationality in the contiguous zone off the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.

Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama immediately summoned the Chinese ambassador to Tokyo, Cheng Yonghua, to express his concerns. Sugiyama "requested that China not interfere with the flow of improving Japan-China relations."

4. Russian President Putin officially launches his election campaign in Moscow.

Russian President Putin. Photo: AP.

On January 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in his first official campaign rally in Moscow.

Determined to win re-election in the elections scheduled for March, the Russian leader announced last month that he would run as an independent candidate, not on a party list.

Before meeting with the three co-chairs of the campaign at the campaign headquarters in Gostiny Dvor, Putin met with young volunteers and wrote a message to the campaign team on a whiteboard placed in several meeting rooms.

5.The US President is calling for changes to laws related to the Iran nuclear deal.

US President Donald Trump. Photo: New York Times

US President Donald Trump has reluctantly agreed not to reimpose sanctions on Iran, but this will be the last time the US leader makes such a waiver announcement. This move is seen as giving the US and its European allies a chance to correct the "terrible mistakes" in the 2015 nuclear agreement.

While President Donald Trump has agreed not to reimpose sanctions on Iran, the US Treasury Department has just announced a new list of sanctions targeting 14 Iranian entities and individuals.

6.Devastating landslide in California kills nearly 20 people.

The landslide in Southern California, USA, has raised the total death toll to 17. Photo: CNN.

On January 9th, heavy rains caused powerful floods that swept down barren hillsides in Southern California, carrying away many homes. The California landslides resulted in high casualties because they occurred at night as large volumes of water rushed down from steep mountain slopes.

Approximately 163 people have been taken to the hospital. A group of up to 300 people are trapped in Romero Canyon, east of Santa Barbara.

In addition to the 17 people confirmed dead in the incident.landslideTo date, 13 other people remain missing, 28 have been injured, while hundreds of homes have been destroyed.

7.Japanese Prime Minister visits Europe

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Photo: The Telegraph

On January 12th, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began a six-country European tour, with his first stop in Estonia.

This marks the first visit by a Japanese leader to these countries. Speaking to reporters before his departure, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the six-day trip aims to demonstrate Japan's open diplomatic strategy.

Abe hopes that the talks with his partners will lead to cooperation with other countries in addressing urgent challenges facing the international community, including the North Korean crisis. In addition, this six-day visit aims to strengthen economic ties with Europe.