Chilly New Year in China

TONGREN, China – Millions of Chinese began the biggest holiday of the year without power yesterday after more than a week of fierce winter weather, but tens of thousands of stranded passengers had finally found trains, buses and planes to get home for family reunions.

Hong Kong journalist freed * HONG KONG – A Hong Kong journalist charged with spying for Taiwan has been released from a prison in mainland China where he was detained for almost two years, the government said on Tuesday. Windfall for Taliban in taxes * KABUL – Afghanistan, the world’s biggest opium producer, is set for another bumper crop in 2008, providing a windfall for the Taliban who tax farmers to finance their fight against government and foreign forces, the UN said yesterday.To cover or not to cover * ANKARA – Legislators are to debate one of secular but predominantly Muslim Turkey’s most fiery issues: whether to allow female students to enter university campuses wearing Islamic head scarves.French court probes 100 deaths * PARIS – Familes of more than 100 young people who died from a brain disease after being treated with human growth hormones get their day in court as trial opens into the deaths after a 17-year investigation.Windfall for Taliban in taxes * KABUL – Afghanistan, the world’s biggest opium producer, is set for another bumper crop in 2008, providing a windfall for the Taliban who tax farmers to finance their fight against government and foreign forces, the UN said yesterday.To cover or not to cover * ANKARA – Legislators are to debate one of secular but predominantly Muslim Turkey’s most fiery issues: whether to allow female students to enter university campuses wearing Islamic head scarves. French court probes 100 deaths * PARIS – Familes of more than 100 young people who died from a brain disease after being treated with human growth hormones get their day in court as trial opens into the deaths after a 17-year investigation.