CULTURE AND SPORT

New Zealand authorities extended a state of emergency in quake-hit Christchurch Wednesday after the most damaging aftershock since a powerful weekend quake.

Vietnam is confident it will get the go-ahead to host several major sporting events over the next 10 years. The biggest will be the 18th Asian Games.

Millions of European commuters struggled to work Tuesday as workers in France and Britain staged strikes over pension reform and planned job cuts.

A fair on international books in 2010 will be held in Hanoi under the theme “Celebrating 1,000 years of Thang Long – Hanoi” from sept 17-21.

A week-long German film festival is open in Hanoi from September 6-12, featuring famous German films from the 1990s.

Australian PM Julia Gillard  retained power by a tiny, one-seat majority after winning the backing of two key independent MPs following inconclusive polls.

Nearly 150 boxers from across the country are testing their skills at the 6th National Men’s Boxing Championships.

The EU executive commission is not providing sufficient support to the European space industry.

Five troupes from the host country of Vietnam and troupes from 12 other countries are participating in the six-day festival.

Hong Kong's Tsui Hark unveiled his latest blockbuster at the Venice film festival while Kelly Reichardt cast her feminine eye on the Wild West in "Meek's Cutoff".

Tiger Woods was in danger of losing his five-year grip on golf's world number one ranking to Phil Mickelson or Steve Stricker.

Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom declared a "national tragedy" after landslides killed at least 37 people and nearly two dozen still missing.

US President Barack Obama will meet Southeast Asian leaders on September 24 in New York and seek broader cooperation on issues, the White House said Friday.

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark will play former champion Maria Sharapova of Russia in the fourth round of the US Open.

Initial estimates put the damage at up to USD 1.44 billion as buildings collapsed, gas, water and sewage lines were ruptured.

Vietnam’s top weightlifter Hoang Anh Tuan will be taking part in the world championship in Turkey from September 15-27.

A state of emergency was declared in New Zealand's second largest city Christchurch after a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck before dawn on Saturday.

British oil giant BP revealed it has so far spent eight billion dollars to battle the Gulf of Mexico disaster, as its crews worked to retrieve key evidence from the seabed.

The chief of the UNAIDS agency said that global contributions to fighting the disease are dropping off for the first time in 15 years amid tough economic times.