CULTURE AND SPORT

Japanese police launched an investigation into the financial scandal engulfing Olympus Corp as a major investor joined increasing calls for a wholesale clean-out of the board.

Vietnam opened the door to the SEA Games' semi-final round after their 2-0 victory over East Timor yesterday.

A ceremony was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on November 9 to hoist the national flags of countries participating in the 26th Southeast Asian Games, including Vietnam.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake killed at least three people in eastern Turkey, less than three weeks after a quake killed more than 600 in the same area, TRT television reported.

Asian central banks have started slashing interest rates amid the prospect of a eurozone on the brink of catastrophe.

Global online music revenues are expected to rise by about 7 percent this year to $6.3 billion, technology research firm Gartner said on Tuesday.

Swimming great Ian Thorpe failed to reach the 100m butterfly final at the Beijing World Cup short-course meet Wednesday.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde warned the world was at risk of plunging into "uncertainty and financial instability".

Silvio Berlusconi said he will stand down as Italian prime minister once key reforms aimed at calming market turmoil are adopted this month, after his coalition lost its majority in parliament.

Vietnam's top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh is looking to win gold at the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

Italy was in the eye of the eurozone crisis on Tuesday with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi facing a knife-edge vote.

Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray was found guilty over the King of Pop's 2009 death, triggering an explosion of joy from his family and fans.

Australia's upper house passed a controversial pollution tax Tuesday in what the government called a "history-making vote".

Google Inc's YouTube and Walt Disney Co's interactive arm have formed a partnership to bring videos geared toward families to the Web.

Sat thu dau mung mu, a comedic picture book depicting local youth slang, has been withdrawn from bookstores due to its racy content and possibly offensive language.

Michael Jackson's personal doctor was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the singer's death following a six-week trial that captivated Jackson fans around the world.

Europe's debt drama shifted from Greece to Italy as the eurozone's third economy came under pressure from the markets.

Conservationists warned that moves to restrict tiger tourism in India to protect the endangered big cats would have the opposite effect.

Greek political chiefs sought Monday to put the finishing touches to a unity government and appoint a new leader.