The mother of a Chinese student who police say was dismembered by a Canadian porn actor said she now has sympathy for her son’s alleged killer.

A Chinese court today rejected artist Ai Weiwei’s lawsuit over a 15 million yuan (€1.9m) fine imposed on his company for tax evasion.

Chinese officials have promised to play a positive role in this month’s UN environment summit, but stressed the needs of their country’s poor in an apparent move to dampen hopes for major concessions.

A Chinese businessman suspected of involvement in the deaths of a family of four found murdered at their home in Britain was today at the centre of a nationwide manhunt.

Tom Scudamore will miss the ride on Madison du Berlais in Saturday’s rearranged William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

RESCUERS said yesterday there is little hope of finding alive 11 miners trapped underground after a gas explosion in a central Chinese coal mine that killed 26 of their comrades.

Dan Buckley looks at the events leading up to the killing of Melissa Mahon.

The International Olympic Committee and Beijing officials remain adamant next month’s Games will not be blighted by poor air quality in the Chinese capital.

The Chinese capital is blanketed in thick air pollution, but a city environmental official has pledged that air quality would be “good” by the time the Summer Olympics start in 12 days.

China’s ruling Communist Party, reeling from a corruption epidemic that has seen senior party chiefs jailed around the country, warned today that the fight against graft was a long way from being solved.

China today condemned an Israeli attack in Lebanon that killed one Chinese UN observer and called for new Middle East peace efforts.

Clyde 2 Celtic 1

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan made one change to his side for the Bank of Scotland Premier League clash with Hibernian at Parkhead.

NEW Celtic signing Du Wei has vowed to fight for a first-team place after penning a four-year deal.

The Beast of Belgium, paedophile Marc Dutroux, faces life in prison after being convicted today of a series of child rapes and murders in a case that has horrified the country for nearly a decade.

FRANCE’S most celebrated film maker Daniel Toscan du Plantier died unexpectedly yesterday without seeing justice done in the investigation into his murdered second wife, Sophie.

Brazil 4-0 China

Brazil v China teams

Brazil v China teams

China face Costa Rica in their opening games of the World Cup today.