US defence secretary urges restraint as diplomatic dispute over East China Sea islands threatens countries’ close economic ties
Somalis planning on a better future
David Smith talks to some of the extraordinary characters who believe 2012 will be remembered as the year that Somalia, finally, turned the corner
Number of older people living with cancer ‘to treble’ by 2040
Head of Macmillan Cancer Support warns of a ‘ticking timebomb’ for society if NHS and social-care systems are unprepared
UN observers leave Syria as mandate expires
Departure of last 100 monitors under way as humanitarian situation worsens and regime denies Assad deputy has defected
Pussy Riot verdict greeted with defiance
‘What Putin wants, he gets,’ say angry supporters of punk band jailed for ‘violating social order’
Kenyans shame dangerous drivers on Twitter as MPs debate rules for roads
Nairobi considers traffic bill to introduce stiff penalties for dangerous driving as motorists face being outed by social media
Problems pile up in Kenya’s election year
Despite being east Africa’s biggest economy, Kenya is accused of failing to deliver on promises at home