What are the biggest political risks in 2012?

The U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia, increasingly strained since the Arab upheavals last spring, faces further challenges over how to respond to Iran's nuclear ambitions, says F. Gregory Gause, professor of political science at the University of Vermont.

Egypt is in mourning a day after soccer violence killed 74 and injured over 1,000.

Avalanche kills three as more heavy snows spreads chaos across the nation.

A cold snap left much of Europe shivering and arctic conditions pushed the death toll to at least 89 people

Greek soccer players go on strike and games are suspended as cash-strapped leagues can no longer afford to pay or insure players.

A U.S. military report on the "State of the Taliban 2012," says that America's supposed ally Pakistan is encouraging the Taliban to continue fighting. David Martin reports on the details of the document.

Pakistani defence analyst Talat Masood talks about a recent NATO report claiming the Pakistani intelligence agency is helping Taliban fighters in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Former Navy SEAL Leif Babin weighs in on Leon Panetta's announcement that the U.S. will leave Afghanistan in 2013.

Gen. Wesley Clark says the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was just and that it's time for Afghans to lead.

Ret. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. James "Spider" Marks discusses plans to bring an early end to combat in Afghanistan.

What most American's don't know about country's political changes.

Rodger Baker discusses the recent kidnappings of Chinese workers in Africa and explains how Chinese business interests are forcing Beijing to readdress the implementation of its international non-interference policy.

Joshua Landis of the University of Oklahoma discusses Bashar al-Assad's future in Syria.