Two red pandas who were abandoned by their mother soon after they were born in China have been nursed to health thanks to the love and milk of a dog, state media reported yesterday.

The two protected baby pandas were born at a zoo in Shanxi province on June 25 and were immediately rejected by their mother. The mother's rejection prompted a frantic search for a surrogate, and three canine candidates were found before the final bitch was chosen.

"It's good-natured and has sufficient milk. The baby bears seem to like it, too," said a zoo worker who added the baby pandas stayed with the mother dog every day.

In a cruel twist, the dog's surrogacy has led to her rejecting her own recently born puppy as it seems to think the two bears are its own babies and refuses to nurse the pup.

Red pandas are small, raccoon-like mammals that feed mainly on bamboo and habit forested mountain slopes. They are known as "red pandas" because they have reddish brown fur.

The animals, also known as lesser pandas, are protected in China, like the better known Great Panda. (AFP)

Bans holy water to halt swine flu

A bishop in Britain has advised his diocese to ban holy water from churches in a bid to halt the spread of swine flu. The Bishop of Chelmsford in eastern England has suggested sprucing up hygiene in churches by removing receptacles for water.

"Some churches have a stoup for holy water near the entrance to the church door, and people are invited to dip a finger in this, and to make the sign of the cross as a reminder of their baptism," the Right Reverend John Gladwin said.

"The water contained in stoups can easily become a source of infection and a means of rapidly spreading the virus," he said, "This practice should be suspended."

Chaplain Chris Newlands added: "People need to be reassured that the church is doing everything it can to stop the spread of infection."

Britain is Europe's worst hit country with regards to the swine flu pandemic. (AFP)

Toy 'translates' dog barks

Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy said yesterday that it would launch a talking version of its Bowlingual gadget that can "translate" dog barks into the human language.

The new model analyses six emotions, including joy, sadness and frustration, and speaks phrases such as "Play with me!" - an improvement on the original which just showed them on a screen. "Dog owners can enjoy the toy at a dog run and a park," said Tomy spokesman Chie Yamada.

The original version of the toy, which has a handset and a microphone attached to a dog collar, won the Ig Nobel Prize in 2002.

The awards, a parody of the Nobel Prizes, celebrate achievements that make people laugh and think. (AFP)

Stasi secret files surface at film set

Secret files of Communist East Germany's Stasi security police were sent to a film set for use as props, triggering an investigation into how such sensitive documents were obtained.

The authenticity of the files were revealed when 15 former political prisoners were being filmed for a docu-play called Staats-Sicherhei" (State Security) by public broadcaster ZDF.

One of the "prop" files was actually the genuine file of one of the actors.

The German government's agency that looks after the Stasi archives said they had began a probe into how the files were obtained without authorisation.

The Birthler agency said it had also immediately ordered the Babelsberg studio to restrict access to safeguard the files.

"We're investigating how these documents got into public hands," said agency spokesman Steffen Mayer. He said a prop firm delivered the documents to the studio and it was assumed the files were fakes to protect the identities of the victims. (Reuters)

Madonna concert stage collapses

A stage being constructed for a Madonna concert collapsed in the southern French city of Marseille yesterday, killing one person and injuring six, police said.

The concert at the Velodrome stadium, home to the Olympique Marseille soccer team, was scheduled for July 19 but has now been cancelled, a local official said.

Technicians were setting up the stage ahead of the show when part of the roof collapsed. (Reuters)