World Sunflashes

SPY'S POISON TAINTS OTHERS

British health authorities said yesterday three more hotel workers tested positive for low levels of the radioactive element that killed former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Tests showed two staff members at the Millennium Hotel and one at the Sheraton Hotel were exposed to polonium-210, the Health Protection Agency said. That brings to 10 the number of people in Britain who tested positive for radiation since Litvinenko died on Nov. 23 in London.

The former spy's wife, Marina, and seven members of staff at the Millennium Hotel's bar had tested positive. However, one of the hotel workers was later found to have normal radiation levels.

PASTOR ADMITS SEX ACTS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - A pastor who worked with young adults at New Life Church has admitted sexual misconduct and resigned just weeks after former church leader Ted Haggard stepped down over sexual immorality.

Christopher Beard, who headed the "twentyfourseven" ministry that taught leadership skills to young adults, resigned Friday.

The 14,000-member church said in a statement that the misconduct was with another unmarried adult several years ago.

FIRED FOR A PRAYER

DALLAS -- Two former employees of the University of Texas at Arlington said they were fired after praying over another staff member's cubicle and anointing it with olive oil.

Evelyne Shatkin, an administrative assistant, and Linda Shifflett, a development funds assistant, claimed in a lawsuit filed yesterday in U.S. federal court their termination constitutes religious discrimination. The suit was filed by the Liberty Legal Institute of Plano.

"UTA should be ashamed for punishing these two women for simply praying after work on their own time," said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for the firm.