Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proposed to Chinese and Central Asian leaders yesterday holding a joint song competition called Intervision to rival the Eurovision Song Contest.
Such an event would see Chinese crooners competing for a prize with Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Russians and Kyrgyz. "Conducting an international modern song contest, Intervision, would strengthen cultural ties between our nations", Interfax news agency quoted Mr Putin as telling a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government in Beijing.
The annual Eurovision contest started in 1956 and reaches a TV audience of some 100 million. (Reuters)
Airline asks fliers to flush first
A Japanese airline is taking its weight-saving efforts to new heights, asking passengers on some of its flights to visit the restroom before flying.
The unusual request is one of a number of measures being tried out by All Nippon Airways to reduce fuel consumption.
Ana estimates that if half its passengers went to the bathroom before boarding, it could reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 4.2 tons a month.
The airline will also recycle paper cups and plastic bottles, and use chopsticks produced from wood from forest thinning projects, as part of its efforts to become more environmentally friendly.
The move follows earlier steps by airlines to reduce the weight of flights by trimming the size of in-flight magazines, slimming the handles of forks and spoons and using lighter drink trolleys and porcelain. (AFP)
No foreign drinks at government functions
Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has banned all foreign sodas, beer and alcohol at official events and in federal offices as part of a campaign to promote Nigeria-made products.
The nationwide beverage ban is largely symbolic since most international brand name drinks, such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Guinness and Heineken, are produced and bottled by Nigerian-based subsidiaries.
The Nigerian Bottling Company, the country's largest soft drinks manufacturer, produces most drinks under the Coca-Cola brand in the West African country. 7UP Bottling Company is licensed to sell Pepsi, 7UP and Mountain Dew.
The government is battling to restore self-confidence in Africa's most populous country, and launched a "Made-In-Nigeria" campaign on Tuesday. (Reuters)
Schwarzenegger in Terminator
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger went into Terminator" made after his wife Maria Shriver was caught breaking the state's car cell phone laws.
California's First Lady was twice snapped by entertainment website TMZ with a cell phone held up to her ear, in clear breach of a 2008 law which requires drivers in the state to use hands-free devices.
"Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention," Mr Schwarzenegger wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. "There's going to be swift action."
California's ban on handheld cell phone use in cars carries a $20 fine for the first offense and a $50 fine for the second. (AFP)
Sweet tooth is a giveaway
An eight-year-old German boy swiped nearly €2,000 from his parents but was caught out when he tried to spend some of the money on sweets, police said yesterday.
The boy asked for €15 worth of candy, prompting the suspicious kiosk owner to ask him whether he had enough money for such a generous provision of sweets. The boy then pulled out a huge wad of notes totalling €1,680.
Police were called and the parents, who had saved up the cash for house repairs, came to pick up their sweet-toothed son. (AFP)
Tourists killed in balloon accident
Four Dutch tourists were killed in the scenic southern Chinese town of Yangshuo yesterday when a hot-air balloon exploded and crashed.
China Central Television (CCTV) said seven people were on board the balloon, which went out of control and exploded soon after taking off in Yangshuo, a popular tourist spot in the Guangxi region famed for its scenic karst hills.
It said five of the balloon's passengers were foreigners, all of them Dutch nationals, four of whom died in the tragedy. (AFP)