POLITICS

In a country where military strongmen have long been key to the regime's vice-like grip on power, the succession of Kim Jong-un looks set to follow this pattern of a political and military power coalition.

Cairo's Tahrir Square scene of more protests against military rulers following escalating violence by security forces.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Hamas once close allies but rift appears in relationship after Syrian regime accused of fabricating allegations against the Palestinian militant group.

Aasia Bibi, 46, of Christian faith, was sentenced to death in November 2010 under the blasphemy law by a court in the Punjab province of Pakistan.

World leaders gather in the Czech capital, Prague, for funeral of former president and leader of Velvet Revolution.

More than 40 people were killed in twin suicide bombings that targeted two government buildings in Damascus, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad said.

Hidden credit and debit card surcharges face axe as Treasury plans crackdown to help consumers.

Bombing attacks co-ordinated across Iraqi capital prompt fears government rift is deepening sectarian and ethnic divisions.

Al-Qaida terrorists suspected of targeting security buildings in Damascu, the government days.

France's bid to criminalise denial of the 1915 Armenian genocide has passed through its first legal hurdle when a large majority in the National Assembly - the lower house of parliament - voted in favour of the bill.

The shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, has launched a stinging attack on politicians who do photoshoots with their children over Christmas - the day after the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, was pictured at home with his family.

Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth office has said Iranian authorities have blocked access to an official website "UK in Iran" .

As 2011 comes to a close the International Business Times UK takes a hindsight look examining how and why the red giant China became synonymous with state sponsored hacking.

French prosecutors have started a criminal inquiry into a Tory MP and 12 others who attended a Nazi-themed stag night in France.

The Arab League on Wednesday chose a Sudanese former general to lead the body's monitoring group to Syria.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned that 'provocateurs and extremists' will not be permitted to 'divide Russian society'.

The next head of the nuclear state, Kim Jong-un was said to be educated in a school on the outskirts of Bern under a false name “Pak Un”.

The hacker cell of Anonymous has issued a new call-to-arms against the U.S. government's "Stop Online Piracy Act" (SOPA), asking all Anons and Occupiers to join its OpBlackOut "protest."

You'll have to shout, Mrs Merkel, because either the Markets didn't hear you or they have totally ignored your message.

Despite signing an agreement earlier this week to allow Arab observers into the country, the death toll in Syria has continued to rise, with fresh attacks on villages and protesters resulting in 100 deaths on Tuesday.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the head of the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC), said people receiving orders from Saadi Gaddafi have infiltrated the government.

Anti-Europe UK Independence Party forces government to carry out cost/benefit analysis of Britain's EU membership.

UN-backed war crimes tribunal for Rwanda sentences two former ruling party bosses seen as key organisers of 1994 genocide to life terms.

Sudanese stranded in their tens of thousands in makeshift refugee camps need help to get home, says Amnesty.

A devastating 8.9. magnitude earthquake hit Japan in March, triggering a massive tsunami that swept cars, ships and buildings away along the northeast coast of the country.

Republicans in America are squabbling amongst themselves over so-called "attack ads" targeting Newt Gingrich, one of the party's hopefuls for the 2012 presidential campaign, who is being upbraided for his "baggage".

Nigerian president explains the urgent need to minimise the country's dependence on crude oil

Following reports that Chinese hackers penetrated the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's security scrutiny has once again fallen on the Chinese government.

The year 2011 has been a memorable one for Queen Elizabeth II, starting as it did with the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.