Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is Hong Kong's first low fare, long-haul passenger airline. Starting in October 2006, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines will offer non-stop service to London-Gatwick. It initially plans to offer flights to London, Chicago, Cologne, Berlin, Oakland and Milan but hopes to fly to 15 destinations by 2011. This could mean bargain basement fares between London and Hong Kong, and maybe even apply some pressure to the likes of BA and Virgin Atlantic who are expected to reduce their prices to deal with the competition. The Beetle: please don't let it be a Ryanair type operation – I'm waiting for the day when Ryanair travellers have to put a £1 coin in to use the toilets on board. Now there's an idea, Mr O'Leary…

The Japanese government recently disclosed that there is now a greater proportion of elderly people in Japan than anywhere else in the world. Last year's Japanese census show that the number of people aged 65 and over reached 21% (27m), overtaking Italy for the first time. What's more, fewer and fewer people are finding partners; almost three out of five women in their late twenties are unmarried, and a third of those in their early thirties. About half the men in the same age group have not found a wife. The ratio of children under 15 is also lower than anywhere else in the world. Matchmaking services have even been launched by local councils to try to help people to marry.