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SOUTH Korea has elected its first female president, handing a slim but historic victory to conservative ruling party candidate Park Geun-Hye, daughter of the country's former military ruler.

As leader of Asia's fourth-largest economy, Park, 60, will face numerous challenges, handling a belligerent North Korea, a slowing economy and soaring welfare costs in one of the world's most rapidly ageing societies.

With 85 per cent of the national vote counted, Park had an insurmountable lead of 51.6 per cent to 48 per cent over her liberal rival, Moon Jae-In of the main opposition party.

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Lebanese take sides in Syrian civil war.

Rebels seize towns in central Syria.

Syrian troops battle rebels in Damascus suburbs.

U.N. seeks $1.5 billion to address Syria crisis.

Abbas urges UN to help Palestinian refugees in Syria.

Yemeni president curbs rival's power in army overhaul.

Israelis, Palestinians face sharp challenges in 2013.

UN, EU, Russia condemn Israeli settlements.

Kurdistan Peshmerga troops fire on Iraqi army helicopter in dispute areas.

Iraq President Jalal Talabani's health 'improving'.

Iraqi president stroke fuels succession talk.

West Bank workers strike over unpaid salaries.

Arab Spring energizes Gulf's stateless.


U.S. soldier referred to court martial in Afghan killings.

UN suspends polio drive in Pakistan after killings.

Britain to cut Afghanistan troop numbers in 2013.

South Korean president congratulates Park on win. South Korea's Park seen winning presidential race.

China says geology boosts island claims.

Amid China tensions, Southeast Asia looks to India.

More attacks on polio workers in Pakistan. Three more polio workers shot in Pakistan; eight dead in 48 hours.

China's multimillionaires emigrating in droves.


Africa says it’s ready to conduct own missions – with West’s money.

Egypt: deposed President Mubarak transferred to a Cairo military hospital after head injury.

Egyptian Islamists plan mass protest ahead of constitution vote.

Chad deploys troops to help fight CAR rebels.

All signs point to an epic catastrophe in Mali.

Sudan, South Sudan to discuss rebel support next month.


Report blames chaos, not cover-up, for BBC scandal.

Down to -50C: Russians freeze to death as strongest-in-decades winter hits (PHOTOS).

Greece hit by public sector strike.

Russian parliament moves to ban U.S. adoptions.

UN security council's EU members to condemn Israeli settlements expansion.

Ireland to clarify law on abortion when mother's life is at risk.

Court upholds Strauss-Kahn sex inquiry in France.


Obama calls on Congress to act on gun control. Obama urges Congress to ban military-style assault weapons.

Guns out of stock at Wal-Mart as magazine prices surge on.

U.S. State Dept officials resign under pressure over Benghazi killings.

Benghazi attack report blames State Department for security failures, makes no mention of anti-Islam video.

Seized Argentina navy ship Libertad leaves Ghana.

Inmate and guards killed in Mexico jailbreak attempt.

Venezuela could postpone Chavez inauguration: lawmaker.

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez 'stable after infection'.

Obama tasks Biden with US gun law review.

Victory for Chilean students as minister resigns over corruption scandal.


Al Qaeda's Al Nusrah Front denies reports of death of its emir.

Yemeni’s death in Guantánamo still under investigation.

US: Al-Qaeda's core seriously degraded in South Asia.

Ansar al Sharia in Mali.


Google captures 2012 zeitgeist.

Treasury announces GM exit strategy; automaker buying 200 million shares from U.S..

Google strikes back against big thumbs.

UBS fined $1.5bn for Libor rigging.

Coal may pass oil as world's No. 1 energy source by 2017, study says.

New-wave economies going for growth.