Flawless blue diamond sells for $24 million
A spectacular blue diamond, the largest in its category, fetched a total of $23.79 million (17.35 million euros) at a Christie's auction in Geneva.
Barnett Newman painting sells at auction for $84 million
A painting by American Barnett Newman, "Black Fire I," went under the gavel for $84 million Tuesday at Christie's postwar and contemporary art auction in New York, a record price for the artist.
UN condemns killing of French journalist in CAR
The UN Security Council has condemned the killing of a French journalist in the Central African Republic, and stated those responsible "shall be held accountable".
Obama meets Syrian opposition leader
President Barack Obama met Syrian opposition leader Ahmad Jarba Tuesday in a show of support for moderate, embattled foes of President Bashar al-Assad.
Alec Baldwin rages at NY police over traffic stop
Actor Alec Baldwin took to Twitter to vent his anger on Tuesday after being detained by police in New York for riding his bicycle the wrong way down a street.
Imploding sub a 'tragic loss': Titanic director
Hollywood director James Cameron Tuesday mourned a "tragic loss" after a deep sea research vessel imploded nearly 10 kilometres (six miles) beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
Three astronauts land back on Earth in Soyuz capsule
Three astronauts, including a Russian and an American, touched down safely on Earth Wednesday aboard a Soyuz capsule, the first such landing since Russia's relationship with the West slumped amid the Ukraine crisis.
Suit filed in death of 'Fast and Furious' actor Paul Walker
The widow of the man who was driving a sports car when it crashed, killing him and "Fast and Furious" star Paul Walker last year, is suing Porsche.
Thriller from beyond grave: new Jackson songs wow critics
Self-styled King of Pop Michael Jackson returns from the grave again this week with a second posthumous album of songs recorded before his death in 2009.
Petrobras probe on US refinery 'near end'
An internal investigation of Petrobras' controversial $1.1 billion purchase of a Texas refinery is nearing completion, the Brazilian state oil giant's chief said.
Elevator melee between Jay-Z, Solange Knowles goes viral
A hip New York hotel said Monday it's investigating how surveillance video of Beyonce's sister Solange Knowles attacking brother-in-law Jay-Z in an elevator wound up on an Internet gossip site.
Study lists dangerous chemicals linked to breast cancer
Certain chemicals that are common in everyday life have been shown to cause breast cancer in lab rats and are likely to do the same in women, US researchers said.
'Neighbors' grabs top spot at North American box office
R-rated comedy "Neighbors" vaulted to the top spot at the North American box office in its debut weekend, relegating "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" to second place, industry estimates showed.
International effort widens for missing Nigerian schoolgirls
International efforts have widened to trace more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamists militants in Nigeria, while France has called for African leaders to hold a summit focused on the issue.
Two bodies found after US hot air balloon fire
Dozens of US workers searched Saturday for the third occupant of a hot air balloon that went up in flames after hitting a power line in Virginia, killing two other people aboard.
US restauranteur buys Pablo Escobar's Miami house
The owner of a Miami restaurant chain has paid nearly $10 million for a luxurious beach-front home in the US city once owned by famous Colombian drug trafficker Pablo Escobar.
US judge jails Chris Brown for violating probation
Troubled singer Chris Brown admitted Friday to violating his probation and was jailed for a year in Los Angeles, though he was given credit for about eight months already served.
Ford, Chrysler recall hundreds of thousands of vehicles
US automakers Ford and Chrysler recalled on Friday hundreds of thousands of vehicles, most of them in North America, to fix faulty software and mechanical problems.
Unusual new penguin flu found in Antarctica
A new kind of bird flu has been detected for the first time in Adelie penguins in Antarctica, though the virus does not seem to make them sick, researchers said.
Sotheby's gives Loeb board seats, avoiding showdown
Sotheby's agreed Monday to appoint hedge fund activist Dan Loeb and two allies to its board, averting a shareholder vote over the direction of the prestigious fine art auctioneer.