Police in China’s capital Beijing detained 12 people over a massive hotel fire at a government television complex sparked by an unlicensed fireworks display.

Rodeo Drive was not quite down and out, but owners of chic stores along the glitzy Beverly Hills thoroughfare were worried that it was losing its lustre.

There are no plans to change the European Union flag, Commission officials in Brussels insisted today, despite a bold new design proffered by a Dutch architect.