A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
UK moves to scrap laws on blasphemy
LONDON -The British government bowed to cross-party pressure in the Commons last night and promised to scrap blasphemy laws - subject to consultation with the Church of England.
Junior justice minister Maria Eagle said urgent "short and sharp" discussions were being held with church leaders. "Subject to that consultation . . . the government intends to bring forward amendments in the [ House of] Lords," she said, to cheers from all sides of the chamber. - (PA)
Ex-CIA spy Philip Agee dies in Cuba
HAVANA- Philip Agee, a former CIA spy who exposed its undercover operations in Latin America in a 1975 book, died in Havana, Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma said yesterday.
Agee (72) died on Monday night, according to the newspaper, which called him a "loyal friend of Cuba and staunch defender of the people's struggle for a better world". His widow, ballet dancer Giselle Roberge, told friends he had been in hospital since December 15th and did not survive surgery for perforated ulcers. - (Reuters)
German boss fires non-smoking staff
BERLIN -The owner of a small German computer company has fired three non-smoking workers because they were threatening to disturb the peace after they requested a smoke-free environment.
The manager of the 10-person IT company in Büsum, named Thomas J, told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper he had fired the trio because their non-smoking was causing disruptions.
Germany introduced non-smoking rules in pubs and restaurants on January 1st, but those working in small offices are still allowed to smoke. - (Reuters)
Date for Thurman stalker case
NEW YORK -The trial of a man accused of stalking actor Uma Thurman for two years was set for February 5th yesterday, and it appears likely that the actor will be called to testify.
Jack Jordan (36) is accused of trying to enter Thurman's movie trailer in Manhattan's SoHo in 2005 and of repeatedly contacting her and visiting her New York home. - (Reuters)
Italy expels Muslim cleric
ROME -Italy yesterday expelled a Muslim cleric accused of spreading anti-western propaganda from his mosque in the northern city of Turin, flying him back to his native Morocco despite his denials of wrongdoing.
Mohammed Kohaila, who has been living in Italy for the past 15 years, spent much of 2007 defending himself after a television programme accused him of extremism. - (Reuters)
Six US soldiers killed in explosion
BAGHDAD -Six US soldiers were killed in a house rigged with explosives yesterday in Diyala province, where US and Iraqi forces have launched a major operation against al-Qaeda, the US military said. Four US soldiers were also wounded, the military said. - (Reuters)