The eight tons of gold, silver and copper unearthed from mines in Mongolia and Utah and now under guard at the Tower of London is the largest ever haul used to make Olympic medals.
The euro inched higher in Asian trade on Wednesday after hitting new multi-year lows against the dollar and yen amid worries over the European debt crisis.
A Canadian naval officer arrested this year for allegedly leaking secrets may also have compromised top level Australian, British and American intelligence.
Workers at Penn State University on Sunday used jackhammers and a forklift to remove a statue of legendary football coach Joe Paterno, tarnished by a child sex scandal that saw his top aide imprisoned.
Cuban police arrested dozens of dissidents Tuesday at the funeral of political activist Oswaldo Paya, after his daughter's vow to seek justice over his sudden death in a road accident.
Despite profound soul-searching over the Colorado shooting rampage, there is no political willingness to end the long stalemate over the toxic gun law issue, particularly in a US election year.
US President Barack Obama has warned Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad it would be a "tragic mistake" to unleash chemical weapons, after Damascus admits it has a stockpile and will use them if attacked.
His hair dyed orange, eyes staring out blankly or drooping shut, presumed Colorado gunman James Holmes seemed unhinged Monday as he made a bizarre first appearance in court.
The most recent Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" had the third largest opening weekend ever, despite the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado.
Using cells from rat hearts and a seer polymer film, scientists on Sunday reported they had created an artificial jellyfish that could one day help save patients with heart disease.
Science has given the world "no excuse" to resist bold action against the spread of the 30-year AIDS pandemic, said a top US expert at the opening of the International AIDS Conference on Sunday.
Barring a last minute intervention by the US Supreme Court, a mentally handicapped man will be executed Monday in Georgia, despite protests from around the world -- and from the victim's family.
About 15,000 Canadian students protested in Montreal on Sunday against rising tuition costs, with an eye toward rallying supporters against Quebec Premier Jean Charest in expected provincial polls.