If Ontario has its beef against the Lord's Prayer being recited daily at the Legislature, Quebec lawmakers on Friday dealt with its Christian tradition through a question if it should keep the crucifix on its National Assembly or remove the Christian symbol. The provincial legislature, however, adopted the motion filed by Quebec Premier Jean Charest to retain the crucifix. The Christian icon became a major issue in the French-speaking province celebrating its 4th centennial because of a controversial report prepared by the Bouchard-Taylor Commission.

A television advertisement for a chain of electrical stores denying the existence of Father Frost, Russia's version of Santa Claus, has been banned by the Russian government. According to the BBC, the Federal anti-Monopoly Service found the advertisement for Eto electrical stores had broken rules for advertisers not to discredit parents and teachers when it declared that Father Frost was non-existent.

South Korea has sparked a gender row following its decision to print banknotes featuring the face of a woman who symbolizes motherhood in the country. The country's Central Bank has chosen to print the new 50,000 won note with the image of Shin Saimdang, the first woman to feature in the country's currency notes.

Germany is to face European Union (EU) officials in a bid to save the designation of Apfelwein - its traditional apple wine - amid fears it is to be victim of new EU regulations. Apfelwein, a beverage with five to seven percent alcohol content, comes from the country's south-western state of Hesse which includes the financial center Frankfurt.

A bookshop owner from Houston, Texas emerged as the only and winning bidder for the 3-inch (8 cm) strand of hair of Bolivian icon, Che Guevara, auctioned by the Heritage Auction Galleries in downtown Dallas for a staggering price of $119,500. The 61-year-old Bill Butler placed his order by telephone, claiming he wanted to display the hair of the Bolivian icon as a main attraction in his bookshop.