CULTURE AND SPORT

The International Monetary Fund named Chinese economist Zhu Min to a new deputy managing director's position.

Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami in March are set to make 2011 the costliest year on record for natural disasters, a German firm said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's younger brother was assassinated on Tuesday depriving NATO of a vital if controversial ally.

China's central bank said the risks from local government borrowing were "controllable", despite growing concerns over bad loans.

A reborn Argentina swamped Costa Rica 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Copa America in style.

While Vietnam annually tries to find its representatives for international beauty contests, many winners of local pageants are neglected.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou warned fellow EU leaders to end division over the bloc's sovereign debt crisis.

Scientists offered a piece of good news about global warming, reporting that cities can be of surprising help in soaking up carbon dioxide.

As many as 208 people were on board when the boat sank, including at least 59 children.

The world population is expected to hit 7 billion by the end of October, attendees at a press conference in Hanoi heard on World Population Day.

In Hanoi and HCM City, this July will mark long-awaited comebacks, both geographically and professionally of Vietnamese music veterans.

Spain's David Ferrer has beaten Mardy Fish as Spain defeated the United States to earn a berth in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

Two Indian passenger trains that derailed in separate incidents over the weekend, leaving 63 dead and 200 injured.

100 out of 185 people on board of the Bulgaria cruise ship that sank in Volga River are still missing, Russian authority said.

US President Barack Obama called more budget talks Monday at the White House to seek US debt deal.

NASA is tracking a piece of Soviet space debris that could collide with the International Space Station, the US space agency said.

Vietnamese athlete Truong Thanh Hang secured a berth for the 2012 London Olympics after winning a gold medal at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships.

Vietnamese French musician Nguyen Le, who has become quite popular in the music world, has returned home for a performance titled “Hometown” in Hanoi.

A taxi driver who took part in protests demanding electoral reform in Malaysia died after he collapsed while running away from a police tear gas attack, the opposition and his family said.