An administrative court has upheld Italy’s new anti-smoking law, one of the toughest in Europe, Italian newspapers reported today.

Pope John Paul II was responding well to treatment after being taken to a Rome hospital with breathing problems brought on by the flu, the Vatican said.

ITALIANS were taking their smoking breaks on the street yesterday after a law that bans smoking in bars, restaurants, offices and other public spaces came into force.

Italians were taking their smoking breaks on the street today after a strict law that bans smoking in bars, restaurants, offices and other public spaces came into force.

The World Health Organisation today declared that Vietnam the world’s first country to contain the deadly SARS bug.