The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has said it wants to improve relations with the Republic of Korea (RoK), in its annual New Year's Eve message.

CAIROA large explosion struck outside a Christian church in Egypt's northern city of Alexandria, an Egyptian security source and the Arabic news channel Al Jazeera said on January 1.  

Firework displays, parties and other celebrations are taking place around the world to usher in the New Year.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, distressed over a call to attack the hotel where Ivory Coast's president-elect and U.N. security forces are based, said on December 30 that the forces are "authorized to use all necessary means to protect its personnel" and any others at the location.  

The US, UK and Germany have criticised the new six-year sentence imposed by a Russian court on former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is visiting communities suffering from unusually severe flooding in the eastern state of Queensland.

Sudan will withdraw from peace talks with rebels in the western Darfur region if no deal is reached by Thursday, its president has said.

Australia's prime minister is promising aid to flood-ravaged towns in the country's northeast after half of Queensland was declared a disaster zone.

Cote d'Ivoire's new envoy to the United Nations, veteran diplomat Youssouf Bamba, on Wednesday presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon.

West African leaders have ended their mission to Ivory Coast, having failed to persuade incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo to stand down.