[But] Turkish television has given the soap a fresh twist by making the connivers, kidnappers and canoodlers Muslims. And it is Arab audiences, even more than Turks, who have been swept off their feet...Through the small screen, Turkey has begun to exercise a big influence at Arab dinner tables, in boardrooms and bedrooms from Morocco to Iraq. Politics and culture go hand in hand, here as elsewhere.

Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping was at the Australian National University (ANU) Tuesday, donating books to the university's new center on China education and research. He said the ANU has strong academic achievements on China study, which played a positive role in enhancing all-rounded understandings of China by all walks of life in Australia and promoting more cultural exchanges and cooperations between the two countries.

Sister cities since 1979, Shanghai and Milan share not only strong cultural and artistic traditions but are also their country's economic and financial hearts. For more than 30 years, this relationship has facilitated cultural exchange, served as a platform to share best practices and build stronger economic links.

Haitians love Brazilian soccer like almost nothing else, a half-century-old histoire d'amour that even smoothed the way for Brazil-led U.N. peacekeepers to help quell political unrest in 2004. With Haitians badly needing a release from tension and misery of the post-quake year, the 2010 Cup and Selecao mean more than ever.

The United Arab Emirates is playing an active role in the events of the next edition of Morocco's Asilah Arts Festival, which will be held July 10-28. The UAE has been chosen as the Festival's guest of honour by the organizers. This is because the Gulf state has been experiencing a massive increase in its distinguished cultural and literary activities, both in the region and the world.

The annual "fete de la musique" celebration marking the "spontaneity and openness to all forms of music" takes place in more than 350 cities across the globe Monday evening, 28 years after it was started in France.

The agreement was signed between Zaobao.com, the online version of Lianhe Zaobao, the leading Chinese daily in Singapore, and Shanda Literature Singapore(SDL), the leader of China's online literature. The literary site will allow Singaporean readers to have free access into Shanda's online Chinese literature.

On his historic tour of Shanghai by the maiden direct flight from Taipei Songshan Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport June 14, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin told the media that he wants to move the world with "soft power." What is Taiwan's soft power?