Reuters: Pop star to quit after photo scandal 21 February

Gillian Chung, one of several prominent Hong Kong stars caught up in a nude photo scandal, apologises to her family and fans.

Hong Kong Hollywood Kung Fu star Jackie Chan will take time out this year to promote the Beijing Olympics and recently saddled up for a video to promote Hong Kong's fringe Olympics role in hosting equestrian events this summer.

The British Crown Colony of Hong Kong is now in the path of the invading Chinese Communists, who command a position only a few miles away. Hong Kong has become the most important seaport in China since the fall of Shanghai to Communist forces. The British send massive reinforcements of troops, field artillery and air squadrons to beat off any attempt that might be made to take Hong Kong.

Palin arrives in Hong Kong and is greeted with a champagne reception. The service is ultimate luxury compared to his time in the container ship.

Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday berated US bishops for their poor handling of the child sex scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic church, but laid part of the blame on the breakdown of values in US society. Benedict told a gathering of bishops they had "sometimes very badly handled" the decades-old problem of pedophile priests. But he urged efforts "to address the sin of abuse within the wider context of sexual mores.

Conservatives are expected to win after many of Ahmadinejad's opponents were barred from running as candidates. But Ahmadinejad is not guaranteed an easy ride even with a conservative win. Among his allies are critics of his economic policies and people looking to the presidential race next year. 44 million people are eligible to vote and 4,500 candidates are competing for 290 parliamentary seats.

Paris is scrambling to contain a row sparked by a French charity's bid to airlift more than 100 children out of Chad, a key ally for Europe's peacekeeping strategy in Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region. President Idriss Deby Itno reacted furiously to the botched operation, even suggesting the charity Zoe's Ark planned to sell the children to pedophiles or "kill them and remove their organs". Nine French nationals, seven Spaniards and a Belgian are facing possible child trafficking charges over the case, which has strained ties with France's former colony. A news report on the affair.

Max Mosley will remain president of Formula One's governing body, the FIA, after winning a vote of confidence Tuesday from its members following his involvement in a sado-masochist sex scandal. FIA announced that Mosley had won 103 of 169 votes cast during an extraordinary general assembly at FIA headquarters in Paris.

New York has its diners, Paris its cafes. But in Hong Kong a specially brewed milk tea is a local favourite giving Starbucks a run for its money.