The Democratic People Republic of Korea (DPRK) on January 5 called for unconditional talks with the Republic of Korea (RoK) but the US suggested it must first stop provoking its neighbor, recommit to a 2005 nuclear pact and take responsibility for recent attacks.

UN peacekeepers in Ivory Coast are sending a request to the Security Council for 1,000 to 2,000 more troops amid the continuing political crisis.

At least one person was killed and several others injured in a clash on January 4 in Cote d'Ivoire's economic capital Abidjan while African mediators reported failure one day after their mission in the violence-hit city.

There has been strong international condemnation of the assassination of one of Pakistan's best-known liberal politicians in the capital Islamabad.

Iran has invited ambassadors from several countries to visit the country's nuclear facilities, state-run media has reported.  

Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo has agreed to further talks to end his country's post-election crisis, buying himself time after a demand by African leaders that he step down or face force.

On the heels of the new-year, India, Colombia, Germany, Portugal and South Africa have begun their two-year tenure as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Environmental organization Greenpeace marked the start of Hungary's European Union presidency on Monday by submitting a list of ten demands to Minister of State for EU Affairs Eniko Gyori.

Up to 80 African migrants are feared to have drowned off the south coast of Yemen after their boats capsized, Yemeni officials say.

Jerry Brown has been sworn in as the new governor of the US state of California, taking over from the departing Arnold Schwarzenegger.