Thousands of VIPs including some 120 national leaders will jet into London for Friday's Olympic opening ceremony, with guests ranging from Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama to the king of Swaziland.
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.
More than 100 people were injured and trees were ripped from the ground as a typhoon lashed Hong Kong packing winds in excess of 140 kilometres (87 miles) an hour.
The world market panic that started the week looked all too familiar: an alarming reminder of last summer's financial storm brought on by the eurozone debt crisis.
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.
Moody's took the first step toward stripping Germany of its coveted AAA credit rating on Monday, cutting the outlook for Europe's largest and most pivotal economy to "negative."
A wave of violence swept across Iraq Monday, with 111 killed on the country's deadliest day in two and a half years, after Al-Qaeda warned it would seek to retake territory and mount new attacks.
Our situation is worst with copper and polymetals: the proven reserves of non-ferrous metals will support the industry for another 10-15 years only: Issekeshev.
From the 10,490 athletes heading to London, to the flock of 70 sheep taking part in the opening ceremony on July 27, AFP takes a look at the 2012 Olympic Games in numbers.
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.
