In Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zor, a network of tribes and smugglers has exploited the chaos of war to create an illicit oil trade that makes European hopes of buying crude from President Bashar al-Assad's opponents a distant prospect.

The visit of President Park Geun-hye of South Korea to the White House on May 7 underscores the remarkable success and influence of her nation. Her election last December added one more name to the world's expanding roster of women leaders of nations.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's immediate priority is to introduce an effective Cabinet that can face up to the challenges ahead.

Speaking before delegates at last autumn's General Assembly, U.S. President Barak Obama eloquently stated “I would like to begin today by telling you about an American named Chris Stevens.”

Another Benigno Aquino is set to become one of the Philippines' most powerful politicians next week thanks to his name, part of what analysts warn is an increasingly destructive system of dynastic rule.

If Russia has decided to make a new diplomatic push to drag Syria's warring parties into peace talks, it may be because of signs that the United States could slowly get sucked into the conflict.

A loudmouth in elections earlier this year, Silvio Berlusconi has been understated since then, as he seeks a statesman-like image marked by his surprisingly muted reaction to a court ruling that upheld his conviction for tax fraud.

Israeli missiles breached Syria's vaunted air defense system over the weekend, but that offered little comfort to U.S. military planners weighing the risks of any intervention against President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

With its resources boom coming to an end, the good times in Australia cannot last. But while economists blame China's economic slowdown and politicians blame one another, it is perhaps time to ask whether Australia might have brought some of the coming hardship on itself.

Gradual democratic transition has been seen in Burma (also known as Myanmar) since the 2010 general elections. Prior to the elections, the country's closest allies were governments that had business interests or groups that had established connection with the military generals. The international community was visibly divided under two separate camps — sanctions versus engagement.