Iraqi forces gearing up to retake Mosul from Isis
Baghdad government to set up three special bases to train volunteers for the Mosul operation against Isis militants.
Pakistan: US drone attacks kill seven militants in North Waziristan
Three Uzbek militants among dead after American drones pound two targets in Afghan border region.
Christmas cyber attack on Xbox Live and Google's PlayStation claimed by hackers group Lizard Squad
Unknown group of hackers takes to Twitter claiming attacks on gaming networks.
Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka mark Boxing Day tsunami anniversary
The tsunami killed about 230,000 people across several Asian nations
Archbishop of Canterbury cancels annual Christmas Day sermon due to 'severe cold'
Dean of Canterbury will fill in for head of Church of England in annual Christmas Day sermon.
Pakistan setting up special military courts to try terror suspects
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announces move in wake of Peshawar school massacre.
Queen to hail 'selfless' Ebola workers in Christmas message
In her televised Christmas Day message, Queen will also highlight red ceramic poppy tribute at Tower of London.
Sony releases 'The Interview' on YouTube, Xbox Video and Google Play
Security beefed up as movie releases on digital platforms as well as in US cinemas on Christmas Day.
Sony Pictures threatens legal action against Twitter over leaked information
Sony asks Twitter to remove accounts that share stolen information post the recent hacking incident.
South Korea steps up security over ongoing cyber attacks
President Park Geun-hye orders increased security after minor attacks on Gori and Wolsong nuclear reactors.
North Korea's internet back after massive cyber outage amid escalating Sony hacking scandal
US cyber security experts say North Korea's internet services restored after prolonged blackout.
Iraq Isis crisis: Kurdish Peshmerga forces look to retake Mosul after Mount Sinjar advance
The Sinjar operation is part of a larger plan to isolate Mosul from other regions and attack IS militants from all directions.
North Korea threatens attack on White House and Pentagon over Sony hack
Pyongyang blames President Barack Obama for 'recklessly' spreading rumours that North Korea is behind the Sony hack.
Tunisia veteran Beji Caid Essebsi claims win in landmark presidential run-off
Rival party led by incumbent president Moncef Marzouki contests Beji Caid's claim as official election results are awaited.
Barack Obama condemns killing of New York police officers
President Obama calls for calm following murder of two New York police officers by lone gunman.
Raul Castro hails thaw in US-Cuba ties but asks Obama to respect communism
Cuban president tells parliament in Havana that socialist system will stay despite bid to normalise relations with US.
Cairns mother charged with eight counts of murder
Mersane Warria charged with murder of seven of her children and a niece in Cairns mass stabbing incident.
Cairns children stabbing: Victims identified as fathers devastated over mass killing
Fathers of the slain children are helping in the police investigation despite their shock over the mass stabbing.
Peshawar school massacre mastermind Umar Mansoor vows more attacks
Taliban militant who orchestrated Peshawar army school siege threatens more attacks if Pakistani military does not scale down offensive.
Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza targeting Hamas after rocket fire
Israeli airstrikes in response to rocket attack target Hamas installation in northwest of Khan Yunis.
Peshawar fallout: Pakistan authorities fear massive Taliban jail-break over death penalty for terrorists
Alert sounded in prisons holding terrorists as decks cleared for executing 22.
Iraq Isis crisis: Kurdish forces claim major breakthrough in Mount Sinjar siege
Kurdish Peshmerga forces reportedly break Isis militants' months-long siege in Mount Sinjar to free trapped Yazidis.
Queensland children stabbing: Police not ruling out rise in death toll
Second person admitted to hospital as experts from Brisbane set to join investigation into mass stabbing of children.
Kim Jong-un may visit Russia in 2015 to participate in World War II anniversary
Russia invites North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the 70th anniversary of World War II.
Peshawar massacre: Indian schools observe two minutes silence to mourn loss of Taliban attack victims
Both houses of Indian parliament condemn the Taliban attack on an army-run school in Pakistan's Peshawar.
Peshawar massacre: Afghan Taliban condemn 'un-Islamic' Pakistan school carnage
Afghanistan's Islamist organisation sharply censures Pakistani Taliban's killing of "innocent children" in Peshawar.
Peshawar massacre: Taliban militants sprayed bullets indiscriminately at school children
Tributes pour in from across world as Pakistan declares three-day mourning over army school carnage in Peshawar.
Taliban militants attack Peshawar army school holding teachers and hundreds of students hostage
At least five or six heavily armed gunmen stormed into the army-run school in Peshawar as gunfire is being exchanged with Pakistani security personnel.
Sydney Siege: Australian authorities begin investigation as tributes pour in
Prime Minister Tony Abbott lays flowers at Sydney's Martin Place to mourn death of two hostages in 16-hour siege.
Suspicious package received by Australia's foreign affairs department deemed safe
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra earlier evacuated over bomb scare in wake of Sydney siege.
