■ UNITED KINGDOM. Kylie writes for children. Australian pop star Kylie Minogue launched her first children?s book at the weekend, joining a long list of celebrities writing for the young. Publishing experts say that in the celebrity age, marketing is increasingly important to a book?s sales and more and more stars are putting pen to paper with varying degrees of success. The first in a series of children?s books by U.S. pop star Madonna, ?The English Roses?, was described by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2003 as ?cynical? and ?unimaginative?, but it went on to become the fastest selling picture book of all time. Minogue?s book is about how Kylie becomes a showgirl with the help of a dedicated group of friends, and was written while the singer recovered from breast cancer treatment. It features artwork inspired by drawings sent by fans during convalescence. The book was officially launched by the 38-year-old at a book signing in London at the weekend.

■ ITALY. Versace adds glam to fashion week?s retro parade. Gone were the acid colors, gone were the clinging plastic trousers, as Versace feted its new, sober style with 1960s cream shift dresses and geometric prints. Platinum-haired Donatella Versace hasn?t completely left behind her glamorama days ? pop star Prince sat in a celebrity-studded front row, huddled in a cream-colored coat, and watched models strut past to the pumping beats of his music. ?You don?t have to be rich to be my girl,? Prince?s voice squeaked through the loudspeakers, but the girls on the catwalk told a different story with cool thigh-skimming dresses and gold-handled bags that were made for the jet set. Brown, black and white geometric print dresses, a mustard yellow empire waist dress, chocolate-brown shorts and tailored jackets followed that sensible, business-conscious spirit.

■ SCANDAL. Priests accused in $8 million church theft. Two Roman Catholic priests allegedly misappropriated more than $8 million from their church and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on real estate, travel, rare coins and alleged girlfriends, police in Florida said on Friday.The retired priests were accused of skimming cash from collection plates and bequests to the St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida, over a period of years and channeling the money into secret ?slush funds? they used to pay personal bills, Delray Beach police said.

■ USA. Models mimic Edgar Degas? painting at an art gallery. It?s very well known among art scholars that Edgar Degas dreamed of someday having his paintings imitated by live models in underwear, so how thrilled he would be if he could see the JCPenney folks using his classic work to promote a new line of lingerie! They?re using Boticelli and other artists, as well. Are there great artworks you would like to see acted out by underclothes models?