CULTURE AND SPORT

Haunted by the criticism it endured after the Copenhagen climate summit, China has launched an image makeover as it recasts itself as a team player in global talks.

One person in four worldwide paid a bribe during the past year, according to a study released Thursday to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.

The European Commission imposed on Wednesday 649 million euros in fines against South Korean and Taiwanese makers of LCD flat screens for running a price-fixing cartel.

Climate negotiators voiced hope that UN-led talks would iron out differences to reach an accord on fighting deforestation and assisting poor countries worst hit by global warming.

Hackers attacked the websites of credit card giants Mastercard and Visa in revenge for their decisions to cut off funding to whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

Heavy snow blanketed Paris, sub-zero temperatures turned Scottish roads into deadly ice sheets and Spain and Portugal cleared up after flooding and tornado-like winds.

The Vietnamese delegation will arrive in South Africa to join the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students with about 12,000-16,000 international youths.

Vietnam booked themselves a place in the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup as Nguyen Vu Phong's solitary strike earned the team a 1-0 win over Singapore.

A fire killed at least 81 prisoners in Chile early Wednesday as flames swept through a jail in the capital Santiago, police said.

VN can definitely defeat Singapore at the decisive game today in the last round of group B of the Suzuki Cup, according to Mai Duc Chung.

Fears that Japan's recovery is heading for further slowdown deepened Wednesday as data showed the nation's trade with the world rose only slightly.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned the world is missing its last chance to control climate change, appealing to nations at talks in Mexico to ramp up progress.

The people of the Marshalls — and of Kiribati, Tuvalu and other atoll nations beyond — can only wonder how many more years they'll be able to cope.

Thirty years after his death, John Lennon remains a legend whose music has inspired generations of artists.

WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange was refused bail Tuesday by a British judge over claims of sex crimes in Sweden, dealing a fresh blow to the website.

The EU and Russia on Tuesday finalised a "milestone" deal enabling Russia's accession to the WTO world trade body, probably next year.

WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange has been arrested in London on suspicion of rape after surrendering to a Swedish arrest warrant.

The Prime Minister recently ratified the national sports development strategy by 2020.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is arranging to meet with British police, his lawyer has said.