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

1. A rare message from North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On January 25, North Korea issued a rare statement addressed to "all North Koreans at home and abroad."

In its statement, Pyongyang called on everyone to create a breakthrough in reunification without the help of other countries.

North Korean media, citing the statement, said that all North Koreans should promote contact, travel, and cooperation between North Korea and South Korea. Furthermore, Pyongyang will crush any challenges to the reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

2. Putin inspects test flights of Russia's most powerful bomber.

A Tu-160 is landing. Photo: Sputnik.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently inspected a test flight of the country's most advanced supersonic strategic bomber, the Tu-160M2.RTNews reported on January 25th.

After witnessing the Tu-160M2 demonstration, Putin suggested that, given the current economic situation, Russia could utilize a civilian passenger version of this "White Swan" supersonic aircraft for commercial purposes.

3. Hospital fire in South Korea kills 41 people.

South Korean firefighters at the scene of the fire in Miryang. Photo: AFP.

The fire broke out at around 7:30 a.m. on January 26 in the emergency room on the first floor of Sejong Hospital in Miryang City, about 380 km southeast of Seoul.YonhapAccording to information from the authorities, the fire was extinguished in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The South Korean National Fire Agency said at least 41 people were killed and 70 injured, 13 of whom are in critical condition.

Police estimate there were around 200 patients in the hospital when the fire broke out. 52 people, mostly patients, were transferred to four nearby hospitals. Approximately 93 patients in the nursing home were safely evacuated.

4. Türkiye advances into Syria.

Turkish artillery fired shells across the Syrian border at YPG positions. Photo: AFP.

According toBBCTurkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim confirmed on January 21 that his country's army had entered Afrin province in northern Syria, an area previously controlled by the US-backed Kurdish armed forces (YPG).

Ankara stated that the ground advance was part of Operation "Olive Branch," targeting YPG forces and remnants of ISIS in Syrian territory. The objective of the operation was to establish a "safe zone" approximately 30 km from the Turkish-Syrian border inside Syrian territory.

5. The trial of Doan Thi Huong continues.

Doan Thi Huong at the trial on January 22. Photo: AFP.

On the morning of January 22, the trial of two suspects in the murder of North Korean citizen Kim Chol resumed in Malaysia after a seven-week break. Witnesses appeared in court this time to testify about the authenticity of images captured by security cameras.

At the trial, the Indonesian suspect's lawyer stated that the court and prosecutors' approach to verifying the security camera footage was "too simplistic."

Meanwhile, prosecutors argue that the two suspects knew they were handling poison.

6.Is the US preparing a preemptive strike on North Korean nuclear facilities?

A B-2 Spirit bomber drops a B61-11 bomb. Photo: Sputnik

The gradual concentration of US military assets on the Korean Peninsula following Pyongyang's series of ballistic missile tests since April last year is no longer a secret, according to the news agency.Sputnik(Russia) The Pentagon appears to be preparing forces for an attack on North Korean nuclear facilities.

Recently, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers, two of the US's nuclear triad, have been deployed to the Korean Peninsula. Business Insider also reported that the B-2s may soon be equipped with the upgraded B-61 nuclear bomb.

7. Putin holds a meeting to discuss the Türkiye-Syria conflict.

From right to left: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov visit an aviation facility in Kazan, Russia, on January 25. Photo: Reuters

On January 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the Russian Security Council to prepare for the Syrian National Dialogue Congress, which will take place in Sochi early next week. Also participating in the meeting were Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

In addition to discussing preparations for the congress in Sochi, Putin also spent time talking about Turkey's "Operation Olive Branch" campaign against Kurdish YPG fighters in Afrin (Syria). During the meeting, Putin informed the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan about his telephone conversation with him on January 23rd regarding Afrin.