LAWMAKER URGES BANNING OF CHAN FLICK IN TAIWAN

Lawmaker urges banningof Chan flick in Taiwan
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Jackie Chan's next movie should be banned in Taiwan because of the actor's remarks about last month's presidential election, a senior ruling party lawmaker said.
At a news conference in Shanghai last month, the action star called Taiwan's disputed election "the biggest joke in the world."
"We want to propose a motion at the legislature to ask the government to ban showings of Jackie Chan's new movie," Parris Chang, a senior member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said Thursday.
Chan's latest Hollywood film, "Around the World in 80 Days," is set to open on the island in June. His other Hollywood films include "Shanghai Knights" and the "Rush Hour" movies.
President Chen Shui-bian narrowly won the March 20 vote, but opposition candidate Lien Chan claims the vote was marred by irregularities, though he's provided little proof.
The High Court is working out how to conduct a recount, tentatively scheduled for next month.
Chan, who is married to a Taiwanese actress, is a frequent visitor to the island, where he has appeared in commercials for humanitarian causes.
Queen's birthday photo:3 generations on horses
LONDON -- To celebrate her 78th birthday, Queen Elizabeth II appeared to her subjects Wednesday in one of her favorite poses -- on horseback.
In an official photograph released to mark the occasion, the monarch is pictured with her daughter, Princess Anne, and granddaughter Zara Phillips, who are also in the saddle.
Buckingham Palace said the three royal horsewomen were photographed at Windsor Castle west of London over the Easter weekend.
The queen -- who wears a headscarf rather than a protective riding hat donned by the others -- is seated on her favorite homebred mare, Tinkerbell, while Anne, 54, rides Peter Pan and Zara, 22, is on Tiger Lily.
Museum honors Gere;Gossett reminisces
NEW YORK -- Richard Gere has been honored by the American Museum of the Moving Image.
Louis Gossett Jr., his co-star in "An Officer and a Gentleman," recalled that his combat with Gere in the 1982 film left him with "a hairline fracture in the ribs."
"But we never had a cross word," Gossett added, the New York Daily News reported in Thursday's editions. "Debra Winger took care of that."
Gere, 54, won a Golden Globe Award for his role as Billy Flynn in the 2002 film "Chicago." His other movies include "Pretty Woman" and the upcoming "Shall We Dance?"
Past "Salute" honorees include Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson and Billy Crystal.
Also attending Tuesday night's event were Winona Ryder, Gere's co-star in "Autumn in New York"; Hector Elizondo; and Sharon Stone. The show will air May 8 on the USA Network.
Today's birthdays
Actress Janet Blair is 83. Actress-turned-diplomat Shirley Temple Black is 76. Actor Alan Oppenheimer is 74. Actor David Birney is 65. Actor Lee Majors is 65. Actress Sandra Dee is 62. Irish nationalist Bernadette Devlin McAliskey is 57. Actress Blair Brown is 56. Writer-director Paul Brickman is 55. Actress Joyce DeWitt is 55. Actor James Russo is 51. Political filmmaker-author Michael Moore is 50. Actress Judy Davis is 49. Actress Jan Hooks is 47. Actress Valerie Bertinelli is 44. Actor Craig Sheffer is 44. Actor George Lopez ("George Lopez") is 43. Rock musician Gen is 40. U.S. Olympic gold medal skier Donna Weinbrecht is 39. Actress Melina Kanakaredes is 37. Rock musician Stan Frazier (Sugar Ray) is 36. Country musician Tim Womack (Sons of the Desert) is 36. Actor Scott Bairstow is 34. Actress Rachel Skarsten is 19. Actor Camryn Walling is 14.
Notable death
Harry Babbitt, who sang with the Kay Kyser big band on such hits as "The White Cliffs of Dover" and voiced the laugh of Woody Woodpecker in a novelty hit, died April 9 of old age in a nursing home, his son said. Babbitt was 90.