A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Czech PM dismisses coalition plan
PRAGUE - A proposal by a centre-right Czech coalition to form a government with a shortened term to break a stalemate following June's inconclusive election was dismissed by the outgoing prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, yesterday.
Mr Paroubek said an early election was now an extreme possibility and he repeated his belief that the three-party coalition project was dead. - (Reuters)
More ministers quit over talks
BAIDOA - Eight more ministers resigned yesterday from Somalia's interim government after prime minister Ali Mohamed Gedi called for the postponement of peace talks due this week with rival Islamists.
"We had no option but to resign because we believe if the talks are postponed again it will affect the reconciliation efforts," said fisheries minister Hassan Abshir Farah, among those who resigned.
Four ministers and assistant ministers resigned earlier yesterday, joining another 18 top officials who quit last week. - (Reuters)
$5m in art stolen from museum
ST PETERSBURG - Historic Russian art worth nearly $5 million (€3.9 million) has vanished from the Hermitage, one of the world's greatest museums, its director said yesterday, with suspicion falling on members of staff.
Auditors noticed the loss of pieces of silver and enamel, made by Russian craftsmen in the Middle Ages and 19th century, in stock-taking. - (Reuters)
Gay cleric causes stir with union
ST ALBANS - A controversial gay cleric has formalised his relationship with his long-term partner, sparking fresh divisions over the issue of homosexuality in the Church of England.
Evangelical groups reacted with dismay today after it emerged that the Rt Rev Jeffrey John, Dean of St Albans, entered into a civil partnership. - (PA)
Cher to auction her belongings
LONDON - Most people would call it a clear-out. But for Cher, it is "rewriting her personal environment" as she yesterday revealed plans for a two-day auction of her paintings, furniture, jewellery and costumes.
Sotheby's and Julien's Auctions will jointly offer property from the actor's collection at a sale in October at the Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills. She hopes to raise $1 million (€780,000), some of which will go to charity. - (Guardian service)
Rebels sign peace deal in Angola
NAMIBE - A separatist rebel faction from Angola's oil-producing northern Cabinda province signed a peace deal with the central government yesterday.
Cabinda accounts for more than half the crude output in Angola, which is sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer after Nigeria. - (Reuters)
Song inspired by Zidane hits No 1
PARIS - Three weeks after France's World Cup final defeat, Coupe de Boule, the song inspired by captain Zinedine Zidane's fateful head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi has hit number one in the nation's singles chart.
"It has had an exceptional start, better than we could ever have hoped for," said Thierry Chassagne, president of Warner Music France, which distributes the song. - (Reuters)
Sniffer dogs can find kids' drugs
LINCOLNSHIRE - Suspicious parents will soon be able to hire sniffer dogs to find out whether their children are on drugs.
A private dog-training firm, based in Boston, Lincolnshire, is offering the service for £50 a day, with the guarantee that any trace of an illegal substance will be found. - (PA)