World Briefs

A Taiwanese man's show of love for his girlfriend has backfired after an arrangement of candles in the shape of the words "I love you" started a blaze at a hotel.

The couple found their room aflame when they walked in 40 minutes after the man surnamed Lin had set the candles alight, local media reported yesterday.

"Lin was arrested by the police later and brought to trial," the China Post newspaper said. He was charged with endangering public safety.

Lin, a frozen-food deliveryman, agreed to pay the suburban Taipei hotel T$120,000 (€22,540) for damage caused by the blaze on May 31, media reported.

A county prosecutor later suspended the indictment in exchange for an apology letter and a donation of T$30,000 to a family-and-children fund, media and a county spokesman said.

Awarded for caring for striken pig

A Chinese man who bought an emaciated pig who survived for 36 days under rubble after May's massive Sichuan earthquake and promised to care for it for life has been given an award by an animal rights group.

The pig, pinned in his sty after the 7.9 magnitude quake, was bought by local businessman Fan Jianchuan who was moved by its ordeal and named it Zhu Jianqiang, or Strong Pig, according to state media. It survived by eating charcoal and drinking rainwater.

"Thanks to Fan Jianchuan, Zhu Jianqiang's miraculous struggle to live was not in vain," People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Director Jason Baker said in a statement. "Zhu Jianqiang has shown beyond a doubt that pigs, including the billions who are killed for food, have the same overwhelming will to survive that humans and all other animals do," he added.

Wishing upon a bamboo tree

World leaders converging in Japan for the Group of Eight summit won't wish upon a star, but instead post their hopes on a bamboo tree.

When the rich nations' leaders arrive in Hokkaido, northern Japan, next week to discuss problems such as soaring fuel and food prices, global warming and nuclear proliferation, they will be asked to each write a wish on a piece of paper and tie it to a bamboo tree to make it come true.

The ritual is part of Japan's traditional summer Tanabata holiday, which is based on a popular myth of two star-crossed lovers who meet on the milky way once a year, on July 7.

The holiday coincides with the summit, which takes place from July 7-9.

Besides Tanabata celebrations, more than 70,000 Japanese shops, offices and tourist attractions such as Tokyo Tower will take part in a "lights off" campaign to save energy on Monday evening.

Fiddler looks for quick payday

A Canadian fiddler who is no stranger to controversy has put half his future music earnings up for sale on eBay, the auction website.

Ashley MacIsaac, who says he declared personal bankruptcy in 2000, is seeking a minimum bid of C$1.5 million from an investor who would in turn get half of what the Cape Breton musician earns during the rest of his career.

Mr MacIsaac achieved international prominence and raised a few eyebrows in 1997 when he revealed more than his Celtic dance moves while taping Late Night With Conan O'Brien. According to media reports, he exposed his private parts on the television show while kicking up his kilt during his performance.

Teddy bear firm to quit China

Steiff, the firm that has made teddy bears for over a century, said yesterday it planned to move production back from China to Germany because poor standards there left some of its stuffed toys in a sorry state.

"If one of the glass eyes is even a millimetre off, it means the adorable devoted look on the teddy bear's face ends up looking more like some kind of a stupid stare," managing director Martin Frechen told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper.

He told ZDF television the company had found it difficult during four years in China to maintain the quality of its expensive stuffed animals, toys and dolls because of high staff turnover.

Walesa coin rejected

Poland's central bank confirmed yesterday it had turned down a request to mint a coin with the image of ex-President and Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa, but denied suggestions that its decision was politically motivated.

The mayor of Gdansk, Pawel Adamowicz, had asked the central bank last year to mint the Walesa coin to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

The bank issued a statement explaining its refusal. "The central bank has decided not to put images of living persons on coins," the bank, adding that the sole exception was Polish-born Pope John Paul II. The Pope died in 2005.

Dentist wins music contract

An opera-loving dentist is to swap his drill for a microphone after winning a four-album recording contract worth £1 million.

Andrew Bain, 35, who has worked as a dentist in London for more than 10 years, was finally signed by record company SonyBMG after chasing a deal for years.

His debut album, to be released in September, will feature operatic versions of pop hits such as The Smiths' How Soon Is Now?, Abba's The Winner Takes It All and Prince's Purple Rain.