PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela of South Africa danced to a German choir singing black freedom songs at the end of a visit to Bonn.
As he left the government's guesthouse accompanied by the German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, a choir struck up freedom songs in his Xhosa tongue, apparently taking him by surprise.
Placido Domingo, whose fees are normally in the highest range of opera superstars, is to sing without charge next December to help rebuild the Royal Opera's historic Covent Garden Theatre.
But opera goers will be paying "very high prices" for their seats, the Royal Opera said.
Ten days before Romania's municipal elections, former tennis star Ilie Nastase appears to have lost ground to Victor Ciorbea, his main rival in the race to become mayor of Bucharest, according to an opinion poll.
The drop in support for Nastase (49) follows angry clashes with journalists, claims - rejected by his campaign - that he had served the secret police, and complaints that his poster stickers and graffiti artists have been too aggressive,
Queen Elizabeth is to vanish from Hong Kong postage stamps early next year as symbols of British rule fade before the colony reverts to China.
Her portrait will be replaced by an image of the colony's famous Victoria Harbour.
The portrait on coins is being replaced by Hong Kong's floral emblem, the tree orchid, or purple bauhinia.
Actor Paul Eddington has left over £230,000 in his will.