GOLD

Less than a week after the U.N.'s cultural agency Unesco added Timbuktu to a list of historically significant sites in danger, Islamist rebels, who have taken control of the fabled city in northern Mali, began a systematic attack on its centuries-old cultural heritage.

Lamar Odom's unexpected return to the Clippers begs the question about what other NBA stars could benefit from a return to old stomping grounds.

He dresses up like a fireman in the film.

The five who will compete on the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team in the2012 Olympics, said to be the strongest team since 1996, have been chosen after the four-day Olympic Trials concluded on Sunday at the HP Pavilion. Meet the team, which includes Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman, in photos included in the slideshow.

An abandoned slave fort in Sierra Leone is undergoing restoration so that it can be opened to the public. Officials hope that it will generate much-needed tourism revenues in the war-torn country.

India's current account deficit deteriorated to a record high of 4.5 percent of the GDP or $21.7 billion - a level seen for the first time in 20 years - for the quarter ending March 2012, data released by the Reserve Bank of India show.

Reports are surfacing that Martin Brodeur will test the free agent market instead of resigning with the Devils.

The United Nations cultural agency has added the legendary city of Timbuktu to a list of historically significant sites in danger as rebel factions skirmish in northern Mali.

Sidney Crosby agreed to a $104.4 million contract extension today. It's a move that makes Pittsburgh an attractive free agent destination and a threat for years to come.

USA Basketball announced Thursday that Dwyane Wade will miss the Olympics to have surgery on his knee.

Wimbledon 2012 may have its fair share of beauties (think Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, or Petra Cetkovska), but all eyes were on Ms. Pippa Middleton when she arrived at the London courts. The sister of the Duchess of Cambridge's style has pushed her to the ranks of a pseudo-royal, even though her bloodline might not show it.

David Beckham was left off the English Olympic squad.

Emily Maynard has four bachelors left to choose from before the Final Rose Ceremony of ABC's The Bachelorette Season 8. The man who Maynard supposedly wants as her final pick might not even be in the running, however. New rumors circulating about Maynard claim that the beautiful single mother has her heart set on Bachelorette host, Chris Harrison.

With the official start date of the London 2012 Olympics now just one month away, some Londoners are questioning whether the Games are worth all the trouble ? and they?ve good reason for concern.

Roger Federer is the greatest male tennis player of all time.

Blake Lively was a show-stopper at Monday night's Savages premiere in Los Angeles. Although she was joined on the red carpet by beautiful actresses Salma Hayek, Kelly Preston, Helen Hunt, Sandra Echeverria and Mary-Louise Parker, Lively outshined them all.

A new study says the swine flu pandemic of 2009 might have killed as many as 579,000 people. The original count, compiled by the World Health Organization, put the number at 18,500.

Curt Schilling plummeted from riches to rags when his video-game outfit, 38 Studios, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 7. The company's failure to raise funds from external investors crushed its cash flow, costing about 400 jobs and $75 million from taxpayers thanks to a loan guarantee from Rhode Island last year.

A new study concludes that a paddle-like freestyle stroke, rather than a sculling method where the arm moves in an S-curve, is more effective.

Casper Smart was a relative unknown before hooking up with Jennifer Lopez and becoming a familiar face in the supermarket tabloids. Now, a fellow dancer from Smart's past is claiming that the Casper Smart seen in the magazines with superstar Lopez is not the man he once was. Joshua Lee Ayers claims Smart is actually gay and only dating Lopez to further his own career.

The Bryan brothers are hoping for success in London these next two months.