Shenzhen unveils mascot for 2011 Summer Universiade 

The 2011 Summer Universiade organizers have unveiled the cartoon figure that will be used as the mascot of the world university sports event. The mascot, named UU, looks like a smiling U letter. It was presented to the public late Saturday night at a ceremony in Shenzhen. More than 13,000 athletes and officials from across the world are expected to take part in the Shenzhen Universiade, held every two years. The previous Universiade was held last year in Bangkok whilst the 2009 event is scheduled to take place in Belgrade.

Bolt, Isinbayeva Athletes of the Year, Liu Performance of the Year

Olympic champions Usain Bolt from Jamaica and Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia were named the 2008 World Athletes of the Year at the World Athletics Gala in Monte Carlo on Sunday. Meanwhile, Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang was finally able to pick up his 2006 Performance of the Year Trophy as he was not able to attend the World Athletic Gala in 2006.

Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva (L) and Jamaica's Usain Bolt display their IAAF World Athlete of the Year trophies ahead of the annual global awards ceremony in Monaco November 23, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
 

APEC leaders commit to quick economic action

The United States, China, Japan and 18 other economies in Asia and the Americas promised fast and decisive actions on Sunday to prevent a severe global economic downturn. With recession gripping parts of the world and financial markets in chaos, leaders at the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, or APEC, said the slowdown is "one of the most serious economic challenges we have ever faced." They said free trade and higher government spending was the key to resolving the crisis and supported a big push to revive long-stalled global trade talks by seeking agreements in the contentious sectors of farming and manufactured goods.