Chastened Blair

London, Nov. 10 (Reuters): Tony Blair’s government promised today to heed concerns on future reforms after a first ever parliamentary defeat raised questions about the British Prime Minister’s ability to govern.

Ministers called the shock vote a one-off that would not derail plans to reform schools and hospitals but they pledged to listen to critics before crucial votes in the New Year.

Assad promise

Damascus (Reuters): President Bashar al-Assad promised on Thursday to cooperate with a UN inquiry into the killing of a former Lebanese Prime Minister, but said Syria would not sacrifice its own national interests in the process.

Turkey scarves

Strasbourg, France (Reuters): The European Court of Justice upheld Turkey’s ban on women wearing headscarves in universities on Thursday, leaving no more avenues for appeal for the Turkish woman fighting the law.

Lennon songs

Los Angeles (Reuters): John Lennon’s entire solo catalogue will be made available for Internet download next month, making him the first of the Beatles whose complete body of work can be delivered online.

, his label said on Wednesday. Material ranging from Lennon’s first solo album with the Plastic Ono Band to Imagine will be sold by online services like Napster and Rhapsody.