A hotel opening party was left in the dark after two offended Chinese officials cut power to the building. The officials were upset they were not invited to the festivities and forced hotel managers to drink alcohol before they would turn the electricity back on. The Beijing Times reports the two officials were fired after the incident. They told two female managers that for every bottle of "baiju" (grain based alcohol) they drank, an hour of darkness would be cut.

London, England (AHN)-Britain's biggest theme park announced it has called off the country's first "National Muslim Fun Day" because of lack of interest. Alton Towers in central England was to open on September 17 for Muslims-complete with halal food, a strict dress code and prayer areas.

Hotel bars are shifting gear from being "night-time watering holes" into all-purpose hangouts targeting younger customers and boosting profits. Michel Morauw, general manager of the newly restored Park Hyatt in Washington told USA Today, "People's lifestyles have changed. . . Not everybody wants to have a scotch and cigar at 11 p. m. in the bar. "

Some diplomats seem to have taken to "toilet diplomacy," after ASEAN delegates from China and Japan had an impromptu chat in the washroom. The Foreign Ministers of neighbors China and Japan have only met a few times due to territorial disputes and historical hostilities between the two countries.

A former boxing champion in Britain was slammed a life sentence on Friday after killing a man with a punch, at a party organized last October. The assailant, Garry Delaney, 35, will serve at least 11 years in prison after prosecutors found him guilty. Delaney's victim was 23-year-old Paul Price. According to court testimony Price was lifted off the ground by the punch and fatally hit is head on the ground when he fell.