in fact...Prospect magazine, October 2008

- Over the next two decades, China is likely to construct as many new buildings as Europe's total current stock.

- Between 1997 and 2007, the rise in British property values exceeded the gross earnings of all British female employees over the same period.

- China's biggest single oil supplier is Angola.

- 23 per cent of Germans believe the US government was behind 9/11. The figures in Britain, France and Italy are 5, 8 and 15 per cent respectively. In Egypt, just 12 per cent blame the US, although 43 per cent point the finger at Israel.

- One in four adults in New York City have herpes.

Quotes of the week:-

"I didn't see 'Jaws - the Revenge', but I did see the extension to the house that it bought" - Sir Michael Caine

"Which came first, the Chicken Nugget or the Egg McMuffin?" - Little Jackie

"Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up.

It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or be killed.

Every morning in Africa a lion wakes up.It knows it must out run the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

It doesn’t matter if you are a lion or a gazelle.

When the sun comes up, you better start running"

- African Proverb