Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara promised "a new departure" for French-speaking Africa's largest economy on January 6 as he started to reshuffle the government following his landslide re-election last October.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said it successfully tested a nuclear bomb on January 6, drawing threats of further sanctions even though the United States and weapons experts voiced doubts the device was as advanced as the isolated nation claimed.

The first flight for Cuban migrants stranded in Costa Rica will leave on January 12, the Central American country's foreign minister said on January 6.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will support the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member nations in creating and applying credit guarantee systems.

Former Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, 77, said on January 5 he would run for the next election as he believed only those who represented the Thais understood their problems.

(VOV) - Saudi Arabia’s mass execution of 47 people, including Shiite religious leader Nimr al-Nimr, on terrorism charges is facing strong international criticism and has ignited a wave of protests among Shiite Islamic people in the Middle East. 

Iran unveiled a new underground missile depot on January 5 inaugurated by the speaker of parliament, Ali Larijani, Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, reported.

Wiping back tears as he remembered children killed in a mass shooting, President Barack Obama on January 5 ordered stricter gun rules that he can impose without Congress and urged American voters to reject pro-gun candidates.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on January 5 Saudi Arabia could not hide its "crime" of executing a Shi'ite cleric by cutting ties with Tehran, but Iranian authorities disowned an attack on the Saudi embassy in Iran.

(VOV) -The US opposes China’s pilot flight to an illegally-built airport on Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago.