CHINA

China took home the gold in a controversial finish that left the Ukraine without a medal.

American teen sensation Missy Franklin lived up to lofty expectations as she won her first Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 58.33 on Monday.

If you're looking for some uplifting European economic news, that search will likely take you outside the euro zone and into Stockholm.

Vietnam is an odd country to considering legalizing gay marriage since it has a poor record on human rights.

There are estimated to be at least 30,000 wild peacocks in the Thai desert, but their numbers have been steadily declining in recent years.

The week is chock-full with data releases that will confirm if the summer malaise continued in July. As always, Friday's employment report will carry the most weight. Another highlight of this week is the much anticipated Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Asian stock markets advanced Monday on renewed hopes that policy makers in U.S. and Europe will announce further stimulus measures to spur economic growth when they hold policy meetings later this week.

Most of the Asian markets rose Monday as investor confidence was lifted by the hope that the central bank around the globe would announce stimulus measures to regain the economic growth momentum.

North Korean weightlifter Om Yun Chol pulled off a major upset at the London 2012 Olympic Games Sunday when the 20-year-old athlete managed to lift three times his body weight in the men's 56-kilogram (123.5-pound) clean and jerk. He won the gold medal after lifting 168 kilograms (370.4 pounds).

The first diving gold medal of the London 2012 Olympic Games went to China's Wu Minxia and He Zi: The duo scored 346.20 points in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard event Sunday.

American swimmer Dana Vollmer won the U.S. its third gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games as she set a new world record for the women's 100-meter butterfly at 55.98 seconds.

Jordyn Wieber, the defending world champion, was knocked out of the competition to win the all-around final in the women’s gymnastics event at this year's summer Olympics in London.

Thousands of irate protesters swarmed over Hong Kong's thoroughfares on Sunday and marched toward government headquarters to lash out against a government-proposed school curriculum plan, which they said was an attempt to indoctrinate students by lauding the feats of the Chinese Communist Party.

Tanks and helicopters pounded a rebel stronghold in the Syrian city of Aleppo Saturday, signaling the start of a government offensive, as the opposition and international envoy Kofi Annan warned the international community of dire consequences.

China swept four golds on the first day of the Olympics and set a new world record in the women's 400 meter medley.

Ryan Lochte was the big story at the Olympics Games on day one, but it also was a great day for the U.S. beach volleyball duos, the country's women's basketball squad, and the nation's men's gymnastics team as the Americans look impressive after a successful first day in London.

Exciting moments and major surprises have already marked the London 2012 Olympic Games, which were only in their first full day on Saturday.

Asian markets are expected to begin the week on upswing gains on the speculation of further stimulus measures from the central banks around the world to boost the fragile global economy. Most Asian markets ended last week on a negative note as investor confidence was weighed down by the mounting concerns over the euro zone debt crisis.

The U.S. women's basketball squad was able to overcome the Croatia team in its London Olympics opener Saturday by a score of 81-56. The U.S. women played a mostly dull game, despite winning by almost 30 points. Just a week ago, the Americans beat the Croatians by a 54-point margin.

The 2012 London Olympics are underway, with Brazil and China leading all countries in the early medal count. Find out here where to get an up-to-the-minute, accurate tally of the medal count.

In the wake of the release of Samsung's healthy financial results for the second quarter of 2012, research firm IDC let out a new report saying that the South Korean tech giant's smartphone division is considerably ahead of its arch rival Apple and the rest of the competition.