Haitians love Brazilian soccer like almost nothing else, a half-century-old histoire d'amour that even smoothed the way for Brazil-led U.N. peacekeepers to help quell political unrest in 2004. With Haitians badly needing a release from tension and misery of the post-quake year, the 2010 Cup and Selecao mean more than ever.

The United Arab Emirates is playing an active role in the events of the next edition of Morocco's Asilah Arts Festival, which will be held July 10-28. The UAE has been chosen as the Festival's guest of honour by the organizers. This is because the Gulf state has been experiencing a massive increase in its distinguished cultural and literary activities, both in the region and the world.

The annual "fete de la musique" celebration marking the "spontaneity and openness to all forms of music" takes place in more than 350 cities across the globe Monday evening, 28 years after it was started in France.

The agreement was signed between Zaobao.com, the online version of Lianhe Zaobao, the leading Chinese daily in Singapore, and Shanda Literature Singapore(SDL), the leader of China's online literature. The literary site will allow Singaporean readers to have free access into Shanda's online Chinese literature.

On his historic tour of Shanghai by the maiden direct flight from Taipei Songshan Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport June 14, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin told the media that he wants to move the world with "soft power." What is Taiwan's soft power?

FIFA exercises tremendous influence with its financial clout and sports diplomacy, but it has been very accommodating to North Korea, since an unexpected move by the North could throw a spanner into the event.

The Shanghai World Expo is "a perfect opportunity to build on and further strengthen the good relations" between the European Union and China, an EU official said Thursday. "The European Union is China's main economic partner and we have built a strategic partnership with the Chinese government over the years," Viviane Reding, vice president of the EU Commission, told Xinhua in an interview.

Whether the artifacts on display are works of art, rare alchemical texts, natural historical wonders, or even an array of symbolic stuff that is intended to “win the hearts and minds” of foreign audiences, an exhibition, to conjure an idea from one of my favorite writers, also has the potential to be experienced as a “house of deceit.”