Yesterday was a ...

Good Day for riding a lift, as the Singaporean Ministry of the Environment reported a dramatic drop in the number of people convicted for urinating in lifts. In 1996 the figure was 14, compared with 40 the previous year. Many lifts in Singapore now carry sophisticated urine detectors. Offenders can be fined up to Singapore $2,000 (pounds 900).

Bad Day for qi-gong, an ancient Chinese form of energy control. Two conmen in Shenzhen posing as qi-gong masters persuaded a crowd to show their faith by putting their money on the ground in front of them, then retreating 20 paces. They were told that if they turned around, they faced the danger of being immobilised by qi-gong energy emanating from the masters. But when they did turn round, they found that the masters had taken the money and run away.

Angry Day for Zimbabweans, as a group of Harare women protested about the import of foreign dresses with slim hips, when the average African woman has big hips. "They make these straight things and we are expected to squeeze into them," said a spokeswoman.