Last month's devastating cyber-attack on Sony Pictures was not an "act of war", but simple vandalism, President Barack Obama has said.

Liam Dann writes: 2014 doesn't look like letting go early. In fact, like a good TV drama, it looks set to end on a cliff-hanger.

US President Barack Obama has become embroiled in a dispute with the makers of the comedy The Interview over how much the White House knew about North Korea's threats against the film.

When Raul Castro came on the air to inform the nation that Cuba's quarrel with the US was ending, Cubans turned up their TVs, clapped their hands and some even cried.

Can Russia afford the economic blowback from taking over Crimea? The markets aren't so sure.

Muscovites rushed to the shops yesterday as the ruble's slide brought fears that imported goods would soon soar in price.

It may seem hard to believe, after so many decades of rancour, that Fidel Castro first came to power with the aid of the US Government.

The raw figures look bad, and they are deteriorating.

Russia's ruble was tanking on Tuesday faster than journalists could type, hitting levels against the dollar that were unimaginable even a week ago.

Could it happen here? That is a question to haunt this country whatever the outcome of the hostage crisis in Sydney.

Here's what we know now about the situation in Sydney where a gunman has seized hostages.

Read how the Sydney siege unfolded during the day.

The cafe siege in Sydney was only to be expected after Islamic State urged followers to launch such “lone wolf” attacks, specifically mentioning Australia, terror experts say.

Princess Srirasm Suwadi of Thailand has lost her royal title after a series of moves that have left the country's citizens wondering what is happening in their royal household.

In his first speech as the leader of China, President Xi Jinping identified corruption as a major priority.

The collapsing oil price that is reshaping the global economy could derail the green energy revolution by making renewable power sources prohibitively bad value.

It's more important to get constitutional recognition for Aborigines right than to rush it through, Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott said yesterday.

"I was tortured for 5-and-a-half years!" Ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks heckled Australia's Attorney-General at an awards ceremony last night.

Grace Mugabe, Zimbabwe's first lady, clinched a surprising political ascent yesterday with the announcement that she has been appointed head of the ruling party's powerful women's wing, increasing....

Australia's PM Tony Abbott says boys should be boys and girls should be girls, in response to a campaign urging parents not to buy gender-specific toys this Christmas.

President Barack Obama asked federal agencies yesterday for concrete recommendations to ensure the United States isn't building a "militarised culture" within police departments, as he....