It's an old tradition for the media to print spoof stories to provide a chuckle on 1st April, and hopefully fool a few less careful readers.
Topping the bill this year was the UK Guardian's announcement that it was to end its print edition and to switch its entire content onto Twitter. This was almost a spoof too far for angst-ridden print journalists unnerved by the genuine recent news that the Christian Science Monitor had scrapped its print edition after 100 years.
The BCC website had a picture of a newly discovered species – the shark-whale - allegedly snapped off the coast of Mexico.
The Economist announced that it was "diversifying its business" by opening a Macroeconomics Theme Park.
A rare German entry came from BMW who announced its new Magnetic Tow Technology (MTT) that allows you to hitch a free ride from the car in front by projecting a magnetic beam onto it.
Our own China.org.cn carried the news that China was to be painted white to combat global warming - and French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier had been hired to design a new version of the Mao suit for government employees – all in white of course.
(China.org.cn by John Sexton April 2, 2009)