Forget Eurovision, Asia has Intervision

The Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has suggested to Chinese and Central Asian leaders that they join him in setting up a song competition called "Intervision" to rival the Eurovision Song Contest. It would see Chinese crooners competing for a prize with Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Russians and Kyrgyz.

"Conducting an international modern song contest would strengthen cultural ties between our nations," Mr Putin told a meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) heads of government in Beijing. It was not immediately clear whether Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan, which have SCO observer status, would take part.