Other Intelligent Energy world's firsts in recent years include the development of the world's first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike and supplying the fuel cell system to Boeing which powered the world's first manned fuel cell aircraft.

ENGADGET: UK's first fuel cell-powered black cab hits the streets of London

Separately, military and congressional researchers have concluded in recent years that U.S. funding for development programs in Afghanistan was being diverted to fund anti-American insurgents.

WSJ: U.S. Is Hit on Iraq, Afghan Outlays

Tensions between North Korea and the West have spiked in recent years due in part to concerns over Pyongyang's nuclear development program.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Some Western countries attribute the apparent eastward realignment of Turkish foreign policy in recent years to the Islamist roots of Mr Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development (AK) party.

ECONOMIST: Turkey is rethinking its place in the world