A princely gesture

Brunei Darussalam's media staff and journalists have fine accommodations at the Asian Games after Crown Prince Al-Butadee Billah canceled his 21-room booking at a five-star Busan hotel, where he planned to stay during the games.

The Prince paid US$45,000 for all the rooms and then allowed the journalists to use them.

He had made a reservation for a presidential suite -- at US$2,300 a night -- and 20 other rooms at the Haeundae Grand Hotel for 10 days to attend the Games.

Hotel officials said they were surprised when royal officials made full payment of the bill for the whole reserved period although hotel regulations require only half that amount.--AP