January - Hitting where it hurts.
The European Union adopts a trading embargo against Iran in protest at the country's continued efforts to enrich uranium.
© Reuters
February - Old faces, new faces.
In Yemen, President Saleh finally leaves power after over 30 years.
© Reuters
March - The return of a familiar face.
Vladimir Putin wins presidential elections in Russia on 4 March.
© Reuters
April - You can run, but you can't hide.
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is found guilty in the a special UN-backed court in the Hague on 11 counts of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Sierra Leone civil war.
© Reuters
May - It's the biggest ever.
The NATO summit in Chicago brings the biggest ever number of countries together at an Alliance Summit.
© Reuters
June - Escalating and degenerating.
In the same month that the UN declares the conflict in Syria 'a civil war, Syrian forces shoot down a Turkish jet. NATO meets under Article 4 at Turkey’s request to discuss the incident and its implications.
© Reuters
July - Small islands, big dispute?
Japan lodges a formal protest with China after the latter's patrol boats appeared near the disputed Senkaku Islands (or Diaoyu islands as they are known in China).
© Reuters
August - Voting with their feet.
Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab and his family defect to Jordan to join the opposition. Not far behind is General Muhammed Ahmed Faris, a military aviator who became the first Syrian in space, who defects to Turkey.
© Reuters
September - Planned or not, a tragedy.
On September 11, armed gunmen storm the American consulate in Benghazi. The U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other embassy officials die in the attack.
© Reuters
October - Free to change.
Free elections take place in Georgia on 1 October 2012, with the opposition winning power.
© Reuters

January - Hitting where it hurts.
The European Union adopts a trading embargo against Iran in protest at the country's continued efforts to enrich uranium.
© Reuters

February - Old faces, new faces.
In Yemen, President Saleh finally leaves power after over 30 years.
© Reuters

March - The return of a familiar face.
Vladimir Putin wins presidential elections in Russia on 4 March.
© Reuters

April - You can run, but you can't hide.
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is found guilty in the a special UN-backed court in the Hague on 11 counts of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Sierra Leone civil war.
© Reuters

May - It's the biggest ever.
The NATO summit in Chicago brings the biggest ever number of countries together at an Alliance Summit.
© Reuters

June - Escalating and degenerating.
In the same month that the UN declares the conflict in Syria 'a civil war, Syrian forces shoot down a Turkish jet. NATO meets under Article 4 at Turkey’s request to discuss the incident and its implications.
© Reuters

July - Small islands, big dispute?
Japan lodges a formal protest with China after the latter's patrol boats appeared near the disputed Senkaku Islands (or Diaoyu islands as they are known in China).
© Reuters

August - Voting with their feet.
Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab and his family defect to Jordan to join the opposition. Not far behind is General Muhammed Ahmed Faris, a military aviator who became the first Syrian in space, who defects to Turkey.
© Reuters

September - Planned or not, a tragedy.
On September 11, armed gunmen storm the American consulate in Benghazi. The U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other embassy officials die in the attack.
© Reuters

October - Free to change.
Free elections take place in Georgia on 1 October 2012, with the opposition winning power.
© Reuters

November - New hope, new challenges?
President Barack Obama is re-elected shortly after Hurricane Sandy batters the US' East Coast.
© Reuters

December - Getting closer?
North Korea’s successful launch of a rocket seemingly shows the country inching closer toward developing the expertise necessary to build an intercontinental ballistic missile.
© Reuters
