Reuters: North, South Korea to hold talks as Winter Olympics help break ice
SEOUL (Reuters) - North and South Korea will hold their first formal talks for more than two years on Tuesday, brought together by sport to discuss how the North’s athletes can attend next month’s Winter Olympics in the South despite simmering fears of conflict.
Regardless of its narrow, primarily sporting agenda, the meeting will be closely watched by world leaders eager for any sign of a reduction in tensions on the Korean peninsula amid rising fears over North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“The talks will focus on North Korea’s participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and our preparations have centered around some requests made by the North for a peaceful Olympic Games,” Unification Ministry spokesman Baek Tae-hyun told a media conference on Monday.
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MIDDLE EAST
Iran says it might reconsider cooperation with U.N. nuclear watchdog.
Syrian forces recapture military base from rebels. Syria war: Explosion and air strikes in rebel-held Idlib 'kill 40'.
Syria war: Explosion reportedly kills at least 23 in rebel-held Idlib.
Civilians flee as battle looms for rebel-held region in Syria. Thousands flee as Syria forces press further into Idlib.
Saudi-led coalition warplane crashes in Yemen: Saudi statement. Saudi warplane crashes in Yemen; pilots escape.
Yemen war: Senior Houthi and his fighters surrender to army in Hodeidah.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say unrest over, MPs remain concerned over students' fate.
In jab at hardliners, Rouhani says Iran protests were not only economic.
Iran warns world to prepare for US nuke deal withdrawal.
Netanyahu tiptoes around U.S. threat to cut off Palestinian aid.
Israel imposes travel ban on 20 foreign NGOs over boycott movement.
ASIA
Iranian oil tanker burns, 32 missing after collision off China's coast.
Koreas set for first official talks in two years.
Seoul and Pyongyang set the time for first inter-Korean talks in 25 months.
Taiwan calls China's new aviation routes in Taiwan Strait irresponsible.
Stand-off between Afghanistan president and local governor foreshadows next year’s election.
Vietnam oil exec 'kidnapped' from Germany goes on trial.
Poisonous and running out: Pakistan's water crisis.
Not a record, but mighty hot: Sydney weather reaches 47 degrees.
AFRICA
Tunisian protester killed in clashes with police over price hikes, unemployment.
Communal violence kills 83 in Nigeria since Dec. 31.
Deadly protests grip Sudan over rising bread prices.
Senegal's rebels blame massacre on logging feud.
Libyan government announces end of military action in western Libya.
Somalia calls for accelerated debt relief to fight terrorism.
Madagascar cyclone kills six, displaces thousands.
Egypt's Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi gears up for re-election.
Ahmed Shafik pulls out of Egypt presidential race.
Zimbabwe opposition leader says time for 'new hands' to lead.
Madagascar cyclone kills 29, displaces thousands.
EUROPE
Britain sends frigate to escort Russian ships through English Channel.
Turkish Cypriots on course for coalition government.
Angela Merkel optimistic about new 'grand coalition' for new era of politics. Agreement on tax cuts raises prospects for German coalition.
Belgian government at risk of collapse over Sudan migrants scandal.
UK’s Northern Ireland minister quits as May shuffles Cabinet.
France sees sharp spike in asylum applications in 2017.
Stockholm station blast: Man dies in hand grenade explosion.
Stay out, please: Poll shows Swedes less open to NATO membership.
Macron in Beijing: French president begins China state visit. Emmanuel Macron starts China visit in Silk Road gateway city of Xian.
AMERICAS
Weather disasters cost U.S. record $306 billion in 2017: NOAA.
Mexican inflation seen rising to 16-1/2 year high in Dec: Reuters poll.
Venezuela 2017 annual inflation at 2,616 percent: opposition lawmakers.
Foreign meddling in 2018 elections a concern, CIA chief says.
Eleven dead after gun battle erupts outside Mexican beach resort. Dozens killed as wave of violence hits Juárez, Chihuahua.
Hondurans hold mass protests calling for new election.
Venezuelans scour polluted river for lost treasure, survival.
U.S. moves toward expelling 200,000 Salvadorans.
Donald Trump poised for medical check amid allegations over his fitness for office.
Two injured in fire at New York's Trump Tower: officials.
Blast of arctic air breaks records; Temperatures set to rise.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Jordan says arrests 17 in foiled Islamic State attack plot: state media.
Germany expects return of over 100 children of Islamist fighters.
EXCLUSIVE: Image shows al-Qaeda’s Hamza bin Laden with his brothers in Iran.
Gitmo North? Judge to hold secret war court session near Pentagon.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
S&P keeps New Year's rally alive, Dow eases.
World stock rally rolls on with best start in eight years.
Google squares off with Amazon's Alexa in the battle of the voice assistants at CES 2018 with its largest presence at the trade show in years.
Jaguar Land Rover reports record annual sales.
Forget Bitcoin - now Dogecoin goes wild.
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