REPORT: World news round up for 2012

Presidential elections dominated the International scene during 2012.   In the US, President Barack Obama was elected for the second time.  

In Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin became the new president while Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the former president, headed the cabinet.  

In France, the left arrived to power when Francois Hollande won the presidential elections.

Obama did not enjoy his victory as his country faced several complicated problems, including Superstorm Sandy, the resignation of the CIA Director David Petraeus after a sex scandal and the issue of the fiscal cliff.

2012 was a tough year for Greece who faced an economic crisis but managed to avoid bankruptcy by imposing strict austerity plans but failed to prevent violent protests against these plans.  

Also in 2012, the UK hosted the Olympic Games, protests invaded the Arab and Islamic world over an anit-Islam film, Taliban in Pakistan attempted to kill 15-year old activist Malala Yousafzai and French troops withdrew from Afghanistan.