CULTURE AND SPORT

Smokers took a last legal puff in tapas bars and restaurants across Spain on Sunday as one of Europe's strictest anti-tobacco laws came into force.

Flood waters swept through vast areas of northeastern Australia in a disaster one official said was of "biblical proportions".

Brazil's hugely popular President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is to step down in a lavish ceremony ushering in his successor and protegee, Dilma Rousseff.

Dazzling fireworks lit up Australia's Sydney Harbor and Vietnam held a rare countdown to the new year as the world ushered in 2011.

China's central bank chief vowed on Friday to keep prices stable in 2011.

Mister Vietnam 2010 contest will announce their winner at the Vung Tau Sporting Hall on January 1, 2011.

China has ordered local officials to fine property developers as Beijing cracks down on hoarding that has been blamed for driving up real estate prices.

Former Israeli president Moshe Katsav was convicted of two counts of rape, facing at least eight years in prison.

Denmark and Sweden said they had foiled a "Mumbai-style" plot by Islamic extremists to massacre staff at a Danish newspaper.

Pope Benedict XVI will publish a decree on Thursday to fight money laundering in the Vatican, the Holy See said in a press release.

Pop star Janet Jackson announced that she would launch her world tour in Singapore on February 7.

Malaysia claimed the AFF Suzuki Cup title for the first time despite losing 2-1 to Indonesia in the second leg of final.

West African leaders admitted Wednesday they had failed to find a solution to Ivory Coast's political crisis during talks with Laurent Gbagbo.

A giant Antonov cargo plane crashed during a training exercise in central Russia, leaving all 12 military pilots aboard the aircraft missing and presumed dead.

"The Exorcist," the "Star Wars" sequel and "All the President's Men" were named to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

Vietnam Television has launched the 2011 Folk Singing Festival to discover new original folk melodies peculiar to each region as well as prominent folk singing voices.

US chain Wal-Mart has invested in Chinese e-commerce consumer electronics seller 360buy.com, as the world's largest retailer steps up its presence in China.

A hip hop contest would be organised every month for dancers throughout the country in preparation for a final round at the end of next year.

Almost 30 robots have started teaching English to youngsters in a South Korean city in a pilot project designed to nurture the nascent robot industry.