Marverine Cole

Plans for the first new oil wells in Arctic waters in 20 years have been put on hold.

Lawyers representing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to appear in a court in Paris today to face the editor of Closer, the French magazine, which published topless photos of Catherine.

Just days after al-Qaeda leaders called for Muslims in Lebanon to take revenge over an American film that they claim deeply insults their faith, yet more fuel has been added to the literal and metaphorical fires.

President Barack Obama has paid tribute to the American ambassador who died in the violence which led to the Embassy building in Libya being torched.

It's another Christmas Day for Apple addicts and tech geeks alike because tonight - at 6 o'clock UK time - the multi-million dollar technology firm is holding a media event in San Francisco.

Two horrific factory fires in Pakistan have claimed the lives of almost 200 workers, with the death toll rising by the hour.

The Taliban has issued a chilling warning to America and its allies, vowing to 'defend its homeland and continue to fight any 'invaders', just as memorials got underway to mark the 11th anniversary of the terror attacks.

Three people have died and one person is seriously ill in hospital in Surrey after a coach left the road and smashed into a large oak tree last night.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Singapore to start another leg of their Diamond Jubilee tour of South East Asia and the South Pacific.

Oil giant, BP is selling off assets in what's being seen as a prudent move to make sure it can take care of likely debts it will incur over the worst spill in American history.

Greece is still staring bankruptcy in the face as it's no nearer to finalising the nuts and bolts of the 9-and-a-half billion pound/12 billion euro austerity package it must implement, so it can pay back bailout money.

There are intense fears amongst ordinary Iraqis that sectarian tensions in the country will be stoked now that the fugitive vice-president of Iraq has been given the death sentence.

No sooner than Muslim heads of state from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation suspended Syria from their ranks, re-emphasising President Bashar-al-Assad's increasing isolation.

The aerial footage of the moment 14 activists were caught on the island of Diaoyutai and removed by the Japanese Coastguard.

The people of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, have taken to the streets to protest at the latest twist in the saga over Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, who's currently holed up at the Embassy office in London where he's seeking asylum.

"Equality, Equality in the rights and the duties" read these banners held aloft at night on the streets in the capital of Tunisia.

The most wanted man in China has been shot dead by police.

Thanks London, it was brilliant. That's the overwhelming feeling from the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who've appreciated the 2012 Olympic Games.

This is Zhou Kehua (Cho Kerwaaah): according to China's state news agency he is the country's most dangerous man and he's on the run. There's a £50,000 bounty out on him for anyone who provides information leading to his arrest.

Mitt Romney's potential new Vice President, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan has been revealed to the world by hitting the campaign trial in North Carolina with the man who would be president.

The rescue effort in full swing after twin earthquakes in Iran - which struck 11 minutes apart - devastated Tabriz and Ahar in East Azerbaijan province in an area where some 300,000 people live near the borders with Azerbaijan and Armenia.

On the move again, but with little warning. Generations of their family are used to it. But this site near Lille in Northern France had been home for many months for these Roma travellers.

Usain Bolt is a living legend and has declared himself the greatest sprinter of all time.

Forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad appear to have recaptured Aleppo district.

Over in a day: the hotly anticipated murder trial - of a former Chinese politician's wife, accused of poisoning a British man - has ended.

A medal drought yesterday, so Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympics looks set to be a scorcher.

One of the world's biggest pop stars, Madonna has come out in defence of the three women on trial for charges of hooliganism in Russia.

The dramatic moment that armed police raided internet tycoon, Kim Dotcom's mansion in New Zealand. Shown in court today, it reveals details of an operation requested by the FBI.

Ironically named after the God of hospitality, Greek police Operation Zeus Xenios, seems very much the opposite.