A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Berlusconi's daughter paid off paparazzo
ROME- Silvio Berlusconi's daughter paid off an Italian photographer to halt publication of pictures taken of her in a drunken clinch with a stranger outside a Milan nightclub, Italian media reported yesterday.
Barbara Berlusconi (22), told investigators about the €20,000 deal as the photographer was arrested on Monday on charges including blackmailing the Berlusconis - Italy's richest family - as well as a string of celebrities including football star Francesco Totti and Lapo Elkann, scion of the Fiat dynasty.
The arrest of Fabrizio Corona, the Italian "king of the paparazzi", was part of a wider investigation extending to the supply of call girls and cocaine to exclusive parties which has rocked Italy's A-list TV stars and sportsmen. - ( Guardian service )
Pope, Putin seek to mend relations
VATICAN CITY- Russian president Vladimir Putin and Pope Benedict discussed the often strained relations between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox church in a private meeting yesterday, their first encounter.
The two men met for 25 minutes in the pontiff's study in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, speaking in German for most of the session, but occasionally assisted by translators. - ( Reuters )
DNA demand in Anna Nicole case
CALIFORNIA- A lawyer for one of the three men claiming paternity of Anna Nicole Smith's baby has asked a judge to order Howard K Stern to come to California and provide a DNA sample.
Attorney Debra Opri, who represents photographer Larry Birkhead, said Mr Stern should provide the sample so it could be determined if he was the father of the infant.
"Put up or shut up, that's what we're asking for," Ms Opri said outside court. - ( Reuters )
Soldiers cleared of Iraqi death
BULFORD- The last two of seven British soldiers were cleared over the death of an Iraqi prisoner yesterday at the end of a six-month trial that raised questions about whether senior commanders sanctioned abuse.
The trial over the death of hotel receptionist Baha Musa was the last, longest and costliest of three courts martial of British soldiers over the deaths of Iraqis in custody, all of which failed to secure convictions. - ( Reuters )
Russian elections chief dismissed
MOSCOW- President Vladimir Putin has effectively dismissed Russia's long-serving elections chief, a move analysts say was prompted by the Kremlin's wish to tighten control before a presidential poll next year.
Mr Putin did not include central election commission chairman Alexander Veshnyakov yesterday on a list of his five nominees to the new election commission. - ( Reuters )
Population of Canada rises 1.6m
TORONTO- Canada has the highest population growth rate among Group of Eight industrialised nations between 2001 and 2006, boosted by the arrival of 1.2 million immigrants, according to Statistics Canada.
Canada's population grew by 1.6 million, or 5.4 per cent, to 31,612,897 as of May 2006, data showed. - ( Reuters )
Albania urged to reform elections
TIRANA- The West has warned Albania that it has to start reforming its election rules so it can hold free and fair polls or jeopardise a future in the European Union and Nato.
The Balkan state took a first step towards EU membership last June when it signed a stabilisation and association agreement, but it is not yet considered ready for candidate status. - ( Reuters )