December 21: End of Mayan calendar, or end of the world? Gonzalo Alvarez, who had just arrived in Cancun for two weeks of revelry linked to a major milestone in the Mayan calendar, seemed reasonably cheerful for a man about to swallowed up by the Apocalypse.
12 December 2012
Impoverished Greek families facing uncertain future Blue-eyed Angelina had the misfortune of being born in Greece in 2010, just as the country became engulfed by an economic crisis that has deprived her parents, like so many Greeks.
12 December 2012
Philippines typhoon toll tops 700, hundreds missing The death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has climbed above 700 with hundreds more missing, many of them tuna fishermen feared lost at sea.
12 December 2012
World's second most polluted city turns to buses On the streets of Ulan Bator a people renowned for their horse riding skills have to contend every day with ever more Hummers, Land Cruisers and Range Rovers.
11 December 2012
Syria: from revolution to all-out war Syria's uprising has shifted from popular street protests against President Bashar al-Assad to a full-fledged war, increasingly influenced by armed Islamists, in a far cry from the idealism of the Arab Spring.
11 December 2012
Second US lottery winner 'only played twice in year' A lucky player in Arizona, a married man in his 30s, has claimed the second winning ticket in the US Powerball lottery's near-record jackpot of $587.5 million.
09 December 2012
Calm in Cairo after night of protest against Egypt's Morsi The streets of Cairo were calm early Saturday after a huge but peaceful protest overnight against President Mohamed Morsi, who has greatly expanded his powers and is pushing for disputed constitutional reform.
475 dead, many homeless in Philippines typhoon Nearly 200,000 people were homeless and 475 confirmed dead after the Philippines' worst typhoon this year, officials said Thursday, as the government appealed for international help.
06 December 2012
US offers aid after deadly Typhoon Bopha The United States offered disaster relief and sent condolences Wednesday to the Philippines and Palau in the wake of Typhoon Bopha.
Sun rises over Egypt protesters after palace siege Hundreds of protesters woke up Wednesday in front of the presidential palace, the new focus of protests against President Mohamed Morsi, as an already-polarised Egypt slipped deeper into crisis.
06 December 2012
Thais pack Bangkok for king's birthday celebration Tens of thousands of Thais crowded central Bangkok on Wednesday for a rare address by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, as part of celebrations for his 85th birthday.
05 December 2012
115 killed in Philippines typhoon The death toll from a powerful typhoon that struck the Philippines has risen to 115, as confirmation of more victims filtered in from isolated areas.
Egypt protesters encircle presidential palace Tens of thousands of Egyptian demonstrators encircled the presidential palace Tuesday after riot police failed to keep them at bay with tear gas, in a growing crisis over President Mohamed Morsi's decree widening his powers.
05 December 2012
Russian drivers stuck for days in traffic jam Russian officials struggled on Sunday to contain a monster highway traffic jam sparked by heavy snowfall that left many drivers stuck for days.
03 December 2012
Japan storm cuts power to tens of thousands Tens of thousands of people in northern Japan spent the night without heat or light after a powerful winter storm knocked out electricity cables.