More effort should be made to attract outstanding overseas talents to work in China, the Ministry of Education said Monday.

A group of Sichuan college students are enjoying a life-changing experience in the United States.

For the first time in public, world-famed Chinese actress Gong Li expressed her feelings about the controversial decision to become a Singaporean.

President Hu Jintao attends the APEC summit in Lima and leaders plege free trade.

A man stole a motorcycle in Hefei, Anhui province, last Tuesday, and was cursed to chilling effect by the owner.

China's foreign trade probably reached US$2.55 trillion last year, up 18 percent from 2007, according to an analysis released on Sunday by the General Administration of Customs.

The fiscal income growth is projected to slow further this year, adding further pressure to the State exchequer, the finance minister said yesterday.

The total funds raised through IPOs in China will reach 152 billion yuan ($22.19 billion) in 2009 as firms expect the IPO market to stabilize and pick up in the second half.

China's mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity remained resilient in 2008 despite the global financial meltdown, according to information company Thomson Reuters.

China's e-business trade volume in 2008 witnessed a year-on-year increase of 20 percent, said research house IDC.

Courts in Beijing will handle more economic cases this year, as the number of companies affected by the global financial crisis continues to grow.

A French warship Sunday foiled attempts by Somalian pirates in the Gulf of Aden to seize two cargo vessels and intercepted 19 people, the French president's office said.

"Hey baby, you OK?" Mike asks his girlfriend as she sits down next to him. "Yeah, I'm OK," Toni says, and she puts her head on his shoulder. Mike thinks it's safe to move in for a kiss.

Financial turmoil in the United States is taking toll on the global economy as the crisis spreads.

Laura Zuniga, the Mexican beauty queen jailed after she was picked up with an alleged drug cartel leader and heavily armed men, has been stripped of one of her titles, Bolivian organizers said over the weekend.

Sri Lankan forces pushed ahead Sunday with an offensive aimed at capturing the Tamil Tigers' last strongholds and crushing the rebel group.

Following are the top 10 athletes of the year 2008 selected by Xinhua News Agency:

New Zealand's Olympic champions Tom Ashley and Valerie Vili have capped a golden year, the two stars of New Zealand's games topping the list of sports people featuring in New Year's honors.

Brazil's soccer club Vasco da Gama announced Saturday that its new target player for the 2009 season is former Botafogo midfiedler Carlos Alberto.

Roger Federer faces an early start to the 2009 season as he begins his campaign to reclaim the world No 1 spot from Rafael Nadal.

Jake Delhomme's critics have plenty of material to work with.

Up-and-coming Mugo Samuel Muturi of Kenya made a tenacious late run to win the 7th Xiamen International Marathon on Saturday, setting his personal best to create a new course record.

Lindsay Lohan has reportedly walked out on Samantha Ronson following a vicious public argument.

Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone has lashed out at actress Demi Moore, calling her a "diva" who treats gay men like handbags.

Actor Will Smith, star of "Hancock" and "Seven Pounds", was voted the top money-making movie star of 2008.

Kylie Minogue spent the first week of the New Year on a romantic snowboarding holiday with her Spanish toyboy, model Andres Velencoso Segura.

Filmmaker George Butler wants his friends to know he's very much alive, despite a premature obituary on "The Charlie Rose Show" this week.

The Beijing Olympics attracted not only elite athletes but also the very best acts of almost every genre.

Kristen Johnston has become the latest celebrity to pose nude for PETA.

Madonna practices yoga and so does Courtney Love. Even the German national football team swears by it.

This is just the beginning of the boom for online business shopping services that bridge Chinese consumers and international retailers, according to industry insiders.

The 'Grand Warlock' of Mexico has issued his prediction for 2009.

Da Heng Jiu Jia is a traditional home-style restaurant offering Cantonese cuisine, including seafood, dim sum and nutritious soups as well as popular other dishes, such as Peking roast duck, hot pot, lamb rolls, seafood and mushrooms.

Madonna practices yoga and so does Courtney Love. Even the German national football team swears by it.

Looking for somewhere new to visit this year that is not going to break the bank?