World Briefs

Archaeologists have discovered the intact tomb of a pre-Incan leader who lived 1,600 years ago that could help solve mysteries about Peru's ancient Moche civilisation, the group's lead scientist said yesterday.

The tomb, called Huaca del Pueblo, was dug up in Lambayeque province some 770 kilometres north of Lima, a coastal desert region where the Moche culture blossomed between 100 BC and 600 AD.

The find shares similarities with the Sipan complex, which was discovered in the same area of Peru 20 years ago and is widely considered one of the world's most important archaeological finds of recent decades. Both sites include tombs built for prominent figures of the Moche civilisation, which is characterised by complex construc-tion techniques and works of art.

A Canadian archaeologist, who has worked in the area since 1986, said the tomb includes 14 crowns, masks, jewellery and techno-logically sophisticated objects made from copper. He said the tomb was well preserved, unlike many other archaeological finds in Peru, which has a long history of tomb robbers digging up ancient objects to sell to collectors.

Wife-carrying world title

Julia Galvin travelled to Finland looking for a man that would carry her 120 kilos over a 253-metres track - the incentive being the chance to win the wife-carrying world title and beer worth her body weight.

In the end the Irish woman was carried by an Englishman through a pool and across hurdles. She did not make the gold, but said she would keep trying until the title and the beer was hers.

Wife-carrying is one of a host of bizarre contests that Finns, who can tend to gloominess in the long winter dark, have devised for the scant months of summer when the sun hardly sets and people's mood turns frolicsome. Forty-eight couples from 13 countries, including Kenya, Australia and Canada, gathered took part.

Bidding frenzy for Royal memorabilia

A unique collection of British royalty memorabilia amassed over half a century by a household family servant sparked an international bidding frenzy over the weekend that doubled its value when it went under the hammer.

The private collection including pictures, cards, notes, cups and outfits built up by William Tallon, affectionately known as Backstairs Billy for his final role as Steward and Page of the Backstairs, fetched £450,000 (€658,000). The auction lasted more than 10 hours and took nearly double the pre-sale estimates. Auctioneers said bidders had flown in from around the world.

Among the treasure trove of 700 items was a note from the Queen Mother, known for enjoying a tipple, instructing Mr Tallon to pack "two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin... in case it is needed." Expected to fetch up to £300, it eventually went to a phone bidder for £16,000.

Downs 64 hot dogs

US defending champion Joey Chestnut won the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest over the weekend by downing 64 hot dogs in a competition that stretched into a first-ever overtime.

Mr Chestnut, of San Jose, California, defeated six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi of Japan in the annual event held at New York's Coney Island beach.

The two were tied at 59 hot dogs a piece at the end of the regulation 10 minutes, forcing a sudden death overtime to determine which man could eat five more hotdogs in the shortest time.

Organisers said it was the first overtime in the contest's history.

Mr Chestnut won the overtime, marking his second consecutive victory over Mr Kobayashi.

The winner receives $10,000 (€6,365), a mustard yellow belt and a year's supply of hotdogs from Nathan's.

Expelled from show over porn

So much for "love is blind". A contestant has been expelled from a popular Chilean TV dating show after he was found to have had previous acting experience - in a pornographic movie.

Photographer Esteban Venegas was competing in the second season of reality dating show Blind Love, in which competing single adults are gradually whittled down to a final couple, who, if all goes well, fall in love along the way.

"Esteban, the producers have decided you should leave the programme for omitting relevant information about your personal life," show host Katty Kowaleczko told him.

Canal 13, which is producing the show, said Mr Venegas was paying the price for not revealing his involvement in an "adult film".