POLITICS

The UK has seen a week of violence and destruction that has sent fear and outrage through the population of England’s major cities. Criminals tore through the streets of Birmingham, London and Manchester, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage with five people confirmed dead as the police struggle to reclaim the streets.

Grazia has admitted that it slimmed down the waist of the Duchess of Cambridge by digitally altering a controversial cover picture of her in her Alexander McQueen wedding dress.

The U.S. military lost contact with an unmanned hypersonic test aircraft shortly after its launch, defence officials have revealed.

An e-petition calling for all convicted London rioters to lose their benefits has reached more than 100,000 signatures and is the first to be referred to the Backbench Business Committee for consideration for debate by MPs.

Richard Mannington Bowes, 68, who was attacked after remonstrating with rioters in Ealing on Monday, has died in hospital Scotland Yard has announced.

Charla Nash, 57, revealed her new face in her hospital bed at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, which appears dramatically different with a new nose, lips and facial skin.

The Pakistani Taliban group has claimed responsibility for a rare female suicide attack and another bombing against police to "avenge" military operations in the lawless tribal belt on Friday.

The hacktivist group Anonymous has issued a statement claiming it is "watching" the UK after Prime Minister David Cameron indicated plans to grant police new powers to ban individuals from using social media services such as Twitter and Facebook.

A gunman who attacked the Estonian Defense Ministry in Tallinn has died, police say.

The Statue of Liberty will be closed for a year due to repairs, although the island on which it stands will remain accessible, officials said.

The Obama administration is hardening its position against the Assad regime and has announced new sanctions, in an attempt to increase pressure on the leader and his government's brutal repression of the opposition.

Following widespread allegations that rioters used social media services to coordinate, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed new plans to ban criminals from using sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

A film project focusing on the U.S. raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is already causing controversy after Peter King, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, demanded an inquiry after learning of the Pentagon's collaboration with Oscar-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow.

Following China's transformation of a former Soviet heavy aircraft-carrying warship called the Varyag for $20m, The U.S. have expressed concern of the Asian giant's new found interest in aircraft caries and have called for more transparency.

Three individuals have been arrested on suspicion of using Twitter and BlackBerry messenger to incite new riots.

Skywatchers were today given advice on how to enjoy this year's display of Perseid meteors despite a full moon.

Following criticism of the Metropolitan Police's "measured", "stand-off" approach to London rioters, the service's Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin has spoken out defending the police's tactics.

New Reports that the Syrian Army has been targeting a Mosque, while Ramadan, considered as a holy month in Islam is underway, in the city of Deir al Zour have surfaced.

Eight people were killed and 37 others were injured, in two bomb attacks in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar earlier Thursday morning, according local Urdu TV channel Geo reported.

As the riots that have spread across the UK over the past four nights wind down, the cost of insurance is now on businesses' and homeowners' minds. The destruction's long-term impact could be substantial -- particularly when it comes to insurance on damaged premises, according to insurance companies.

Amy Winehouse's home in Camden, North London has allegedly been targeted by thieves.

North Korea has hit back at South Korea's claim it started an artillery exchange on Wednesday, claiming instead that the South must have mistook construction noise for shelling.

Sangat TV, a four-man operation in a makeshift newsroom in Edgbaston, Birmingham, has been highly praised for their relentless reporting of the Birmingham riots using just a minimum of equipment.

Following four days of rioting in the UK, with groups of people causing havoc on the streets in cities such as London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, the Libyan leader, has criticised David Cameron's call for more police power and accused him of launching a 'crackdown on protesters'.

News International has announced a full-year operating income of £3.08bn. The figures show a 12 per cent increase driven by the success in television and cable networking programming with BSKYB and Fox News performing well for the company.

Weeks of student protests in Chile have begun turning violent despite President Sebastian Pinera's calls for calm.

Following the mass number of stores looted in the UK riots, eBay has pledged to help police catch individuals attempting to trade stolen goods on its service.

Khamis Gaddafi, the youngest son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, currently embroiled in a standoff with rebel forces and NATO, was shown on state TV Wednesday, just days after rebels claimed his death.

A man, 61, has become the latest person to be arrested in relation to the phone hacking scandal.