Taipei  - Fish pedicures are becoming hot in Taiwan, but authorities are pouring cold water on the practice by questioning the effect of the treatment, a newspaper said on Sunday.

Some spa operators in Taiwan, like those in Japan, South Korea and other countries, have imported a special kind of toothless fish to nibble the feet of bathers in their pools, claiming the fish remove dead skin, give a pedicure and treat psoriasis and other ailments.

Taipei - The Taipei 101, currently the world's tallest building, went dark for one hour Saturday evening to observe Earth Hour, the global campaign to raise awareness about global warming.

The 508-metre-tall Taipei 101 turned off all its exterior lights - except its red aircraft warning lights - and all the interior lights from the 6th to the 89th floors, which are occupied by private firms and offices.

The lights in the basement shopping mall and from the first to the 5th floors containing shops and restaurants remained on.

Taipei - Taiwan said Friday it is still waiting for China's invitation to attend the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, as time is running out for Taiwan to build the Taiwan Pavilion.

"Some countries have already begun to build their pavilions, but we are still waiting for the invitation from the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination," Chao Yung-chuan, secretary-general of the China External Trade Development Council, told the German Press Agency dpa.

Sydney  - Taiwan's Clare Wang was Wednesday destined to join 10 others in the running for the highly paid dream job of caretaker on a paradise island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

When voting for the wildcard entry closed, the Taipei-based interpreter had garnered 151,637 votes - almost three times the tally of her nearest rival.

The 10 other contestants picked by Tourism Australia to audition for the six-month stint on Hamilton Island will be announced April 2. Wang is almost certain to make up a shortlist of 11 from which the final selection will be made.

Taipei - Taiwan posted s slump of 22 per cent in export orders in February for the fifth straight month, as deteriorating economic conditions further eroded overseas demand, the Economics Ministry said Tuesday.

In February, the island received orders worth 20.12 billion US dollars, down 22.27 per cent year-on-year, but a marked increase from a record contraction of 41.67 per cent registered in January, the ministry said in a statement.