Syrian army pushes assault on rebel-held town

A Syrian supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, holds a placard with his picture and the national flag as he participates in a protest outside the US Embassy in central London, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Syrian activists: Shelling near Lebanon kills 16

A Syrian supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, holds a placard with his picture and the national flag as he participates in a protest outside the US Embassy in central London, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Syrian activists: Shelling near Lebanon kills 16

A Syrian supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, holds a placard with his picture and the national flag as he participates in a protest outside the US Embassy in central London, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Geneva auction sells huge diamond for $26.7M

FILE - In this March 13, 2013 file picture an auction house employee holds a pear-shaped diamond weighing 101.73 carats, as she poses for the photographers in central London,. Offered for sale for the first time on Wednesday May 15, 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland by Christie's, the gemstone, on…

Richter painting sells for $37 million in NYC

FILE - In this file photo of April 12, 2013, Sotheby's employees pose with Gerhard Richter's 1968 oil on canvas painting 'Domplatz, Mailand' in London. The piece, considered an outstanding example of Richter's 1960s photo-painting technique, depicts a shopping center facing Milan's cathedral…

HSBC to make up to $3 billion in new cuts

People walk past a branch of the HSBC bank in London, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, after the bank announced 2 to 3 billion US dollars in new cuts as it continues to trim its global empire. Europe's biggest bank by market value, HSBC announced a doubling of its profit earlier this month as it rea…

HSBC to make up to $3 billion in new cuts

People walk past a branch of the HSBC bank in London, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, after the bank announced 2 to 3 billion US dollars in new cuts as it continues to trim its global empire. Europe's biggest bank by market value, HSBC announced a doubling of its profit earlier this month as it rea…

HSBC to make up to $3 billion in new cuts

People walk past an HSBC bank branch in London, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, after the bank announced 2 to 3 billion US dollars in new cuts as it continues to trim its global empire. Europe's biggest bank by market value, HSBC announced a doubling of its profit earlier this month as it reaped th…

Royal infant on the way, but housing unclear

In this Tuesday, April 30, 2013 photo, Lucinda Croft, the managing director of Dragons, a small British family business that was also tapped to design nurseries for British royals, poses for the photographer as she showcases a hotel nursery suite at a central London hotel. Britain's Prince W…

Royal infant on the way, but housing unclear

In this Tuesday, April 30, 2013 photo, a hotel nursery suite, designed by Dragons, a small British family business that was also tapped to design nurseries for British royals, is seen at a central London hotel. Britain's Prince William and Kate, formally known as the Duchess of Cambridge, pl…

Royal infant on the way, but housing unclear

In this Tuesday, April 30, 2013 photo, a cot bed adorned with a coronet and drapes is seen at a hotel nursery suite, designed by Dragons, a small British family business that was also tapped to design nurseries for British royals, at a central London hotel. Britain's Prince William and Kate,…

Royal infant on the way, but housing unclear

In this Tuesday, April 30, 2013 photo, Lucinda Croft, the managing director of Dragons, a small British family business that was also tapped to design nurseries for British royals, poses for the photographer as she pushes a pram while she showcases a hotel nursery suite at a central London h…

Royal infant on the way, but housing unclear

HOLD FOR EURO DESK EARLY RISER STORY SLUGGED BRITAIN ROYAL BABY PLEASE SEND 1

Premier League

Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky, center, controls the ball during a English Premier League soccer match against Fulham at the Craven Cottage ground in London, Saturday, April 20, 2013. Arsenal won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Premier League

Arsenal's Bacary Sagna, front, is challenged by Fulham's Alexander Kacaniklic during their English Premier League soccer match at the Craven Cottage ground in London, Saturday, April 20, 2013. Arsenal won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe, left, shoots to score against Manchester City during their English Premier League soccer match at White Hart Lane fotball ground in London, Sunday, April 21, 2013. Tottenham Hotspur won the match 3-1. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur's Benoit Assou-Ekotto, left, controls the ball in front of Manchester City's James Milner, right, during their English Premier League soccer match at White Hart Lane in London, Sunday, April 21, 2013. Tottenham Hotspur won the match 3-1. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Celebrity photos of the week

Opera singer and conductor Placido Domingo of Spain, center, poses for photographers with left to right , City of London Chamberlain Chris Bilsland, musician Anna Cardona, and opera singer Sarah Power, and City of London Lord Mayor Roger Gifford, after he received the Freedom of the City of …

World remembers Margaret Thatcher

British daily newspapers featuring front-page coverage of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's death, are seen in London, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Margaret Thatcher, the combative "Iron Lady" who infuriated European allies, found a fellow believer in former US President Ronald Re…

World remembers Margaret Thatcher

Commuters read on a train daily newspapers featuring front-page coverage of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's death, in London, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Margaret Thatcher, the combative "Iron Lady" who infuriated European allies, found a fellow believer in former US President …

World remembers Margaret Thatcher

British daily newspapers featuring front-page coverage of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's death, are seen in London, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Margaret Thatcher, the combative "Iron Lady" who infuriated European allies, found a fellow believer in former US President Ronald Re…

The Bard depicted in crasser light

New research paints Shakespeare, seen in a portrait, as a grain hoarder who grew rich during famine times.

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

A British Museum employee poses for the photographers in front of a mosaic panel (emblema) depicting a guard dog that was found in Pompeii, during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', in central London, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. The exhib…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

Visitors walk into an exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', at the British Museum in central London, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. The exhibition about the two Roman cities, buried by a catastrophic volcanic eruption of Mount Vezuvius in 79 AD, will run at the museum from …

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

A British Museum employee poses for the photographers in front of wall paintings found in Pompeii during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', in central London, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. The exhibition about the two Roman cities, buried b…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

Casts of a family of two adults and two children who died together in an alcove in Pompeii, made by filling plaster in the void left by their bodies, are seen during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', at the British Museum in central L…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

A cast of a dog, which was made by filling plaster in the void left by its body, found in Pompeii is seen, bottom right, among artifacts found in the destroyed city, during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', at the British Museum in ce…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

A woman looks at a statue of Empress Livia, right, found in the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum, and one of priestess Eumachia, left, found in Pompeii, during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', at the British Museum in c…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

A fresco showing the baker Terentius Neo and his wife, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is seen during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', at the British Museum in central London, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. The exhibition about the two Roma…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

A cast of a man who died in Pompeii, made by filling plaster in the void left by his body, is seen during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', at the British Museum in central London, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. The exhibition about the two…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

A cast of a woman, one of more than 70 people who died in the basement of a villa in Oplontis, near Pompeii, is seen during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', at the British Museum in central London, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. The void h…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

Visitors walks past marble sculptures of stags being attacked by hunting dogs, found in the ruins of ancient Roman town of Herculaneum, during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', in central London, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. The exhibitio…

Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum

Jewellery found in the ruins of a house in Pompeii are displayed, backdropped by the casts of a family of two adults and two children who died together in the house in Pompeii, are seen during a photo call for the upcoming exhibition entitled 'Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum', at the …

Britain Stonehenge Solstice

The sun is rising behind the Stonehenge monument in England, during the summer solstice shortly after 04.52 am, Monday, June 21, 2010.Thousands of New Agers and neo-pagans danced and whooped in delight Monday as a bright early morning sun rose above the ancient stone circle Stonehenge, marki…

Britain Stonehenge Solstice

The Stonehenge monument in England is seen, early Monday ,June 21, 2010. Thousands of New Agers and neo-pagans danced and whooped in delight Monday as a bright early morning sun rose above the ancient stone circle Stonehenge, marking the summer solstice. About 20,000 people crowded the prehi…

Britain Stonehenge Solstice

A youth sips a drink as he celebrates the summer solstice at the Stonehenge monument, England, Monday, June 21, 2010. Thousands of New Agers and neo-pagans danced and whooped in delight Monday as a bright early morning sun rose above the ancient stone circle Stonehenge, marking the summer so…

Britain Stonehenge Solstice

A Druids, name not given, walks past the Stonehenge monument, England, as he celebrates the summer solstice, Monday, June 21, 2010. Thousands of New Agers and neo-pagans danced and whooped in delight Monday as a bright early morning sun rose above the ancient stone circle Stonehenge, marking…

Los 10 momentos del deporte mundial en 2012

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Ghostly quiet in city under siege

Residents of Ofakim, in southern Israel, inspect the damage at a house hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip. In five days, Israel has been hit by 550 rockets, many of them targeted at population centers such as Beersheba and Ofakim.

Animal heroes

Grace, a search dog with the British army, runs towards a handler during a photo-opportunity, wearing a Dickin Medal, Britain's highest award for bravery by animals – that was posthumously awarded to Theo, a bomb-sniffing army dog, wears his medal, following a special ceremony held at Wellin…

Animal heroes

Grace, a search dog with the British army, runs towards a handler during a photo-opportunity, wearing a Dickin Medal, Britain's highest award for bravery by animals – that was posthumously awarded to Theo, a bomb-sniffing army dog, wears his medal, following a special ceremony held at Wellin…

Animal shots of the week

Grace, a search dog with the British army, runs towards a handler during a photo-opportunity, wearing a Dickin Medal, Britain's highest award for bravery by animals – that was posthumously awarded to Theo, a bomb-sniffing army dog, following a special ceremony held at Wellington Barracks, in…

Animal shots of the week

Jane Duffy, mother of British Army Lance Corporal Liam Tasker who was killed during the conflict in Afghanistan, wears her son's medals as she holds Grace, a search dog with the British army, wearing a Dickin Medal, Britain's highest award for bravery by animals – that was posthumously award…

Neither Obama nor Romney is offering a solution

Greek protesters tried to break down a police barrier during a protest last week in front of the parliament in Athens. Europe's troubles are the No. 1 threat to the fragile U.S. economy.

Judge: Supporters must pay WikiLeaks founder's $150K bail

Financial backers of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange appear outside Westminster Magistrates Court in central London. They were at the court last week. On Monday, they were ordered to make good on Assange's bail.

Rowling's adult novel launches with much ado, to mixed reviews

British writer J.K. Rowling poses in London with her new book, "The Casual Vacancy."

Celeb shots of the week

U.S. rapper Jay-Z, left, and British musician Chris Martin, right, the frontman of the band Coldplay perform during the closing ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

London Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Performers with umbrellas during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London, Wednesday Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

London Paralympics Opening Ceremony

View of performers during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London, Wednesday Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

London Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Greek team members carry their flag into the arena during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London, Wednesday Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)