Archaeologists were on Tuesday to build a full-scale recreation of the iconic Arch of Triumph from the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra in London's Trafalgar Square to mark its liberation from Islamic State (IS).

Google's massive book-scanning project cleared its final legal hurdle Monday as the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal contending it violates copyright law.

The top U.S. court denied without comment a petition from the Authors Guild to hear the appeal of a 2013 federal court ruling seen as a landmark copyright decision for the digital era.

A priceless diamond that is part of the Queen Mother's Crown was given to Britain and not stolen, India's government on Monday told the Supreme Court, which is hearing a suit seeking its return.

The 108-carat Koh-i-Noor gem, which came into British hands during the colonial era, is the subject of a historic ownership dispute and has been claimed by at least four countries including India.

A trio of Nobel laureates will take part in a "humanitarian" visit to North Korea later this month, even as suspicions grow that Pyongyang is preparing to carry out a fifth nuclear test.

A bearded imam may have seemed out of place at this week's In-Cosmetics expo in Paris, an annual showcase for the world's leading beauty and personal care products.

But Shaikh Ali Achcar's presence points to a growing demand for makeup that adheres not just to the face -- but also to Muslim rules.

Legendary Spanish bullfighter Manuel Benitez, "El Cordobes", is locked in a legal battle with another popular matador who openly uses the same nickname and has for years claimed to be his son.

The scandal broke in February when Manuel Diaz told "Hola!" magazine he had filed a paternity suit against his supposed father in the southern city of Cordoba after trying in vain to form a relationship with him.

He is best known for "Don Quixote", but the eventful life of Spain's revered author Miguel de Cervantes was just as intriguing as any adventures of the delusional wanna-be knight of his famous novel.

Cervantes -- whose death on April 22, 1616 will be commemorated in Spain this week just as Britain marks the passing of Shakespeare 400 years ago -- survived a sea battle, capture by pirates, five years of captivity in Algiers and stints in prison.

Bill Gates said Wednesday that "with any luck" polio will be eradicated by 2017 in the last two countries where it remains active, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Microsoft founder, who has donated billions to fight global diseases, was speaking in Doha at the official announcement of a $50 million donation from Qatar to "The Lives and Livelihood Fund".

A Singapore woman who lives as a man has been acquitted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl because the judge said the law on which the charges were based relates only to men with a penis.

A senior figure in one of Germany's governing parties called Wednesday for a law that would prevent foreign financing of mosques in the country.

Andreas Scheuer, the Christian Social Union's general secretary, argued in an interview with the daily Die Welt that "political Islam" undermines efforts to integrate people in Germany.